Wave your mobile and pay for shopping

Dubai: etisalat customers will soon be able to make e-payments for their parking fees, cinema tickets and shopping at malls by simply waving their mobile phones near a device at bus stations, retail outlets and more, a company statement said.

"The Near Field Communication [NFC] contactless technology will bring immense convenience to customers, allowing them to make day-to-day payments by simply waving their mobile phones near the specified device. It would also be possible for customers to use this service to pay for everyday needs," the telecom operator said on Thursday.

The technology operates within a four-centimetre range and it can be made even more secure by using a personalised PIN.