Integrated biometric mobile payment feature for X6 smartphone
The new X6 smartphone from vivo is capitalising on mobile payment popularity, especially in China, with a 360-degree finger rotation capability senor. Not only does this biometric feature enhance security, but users will be able to make payments from digital wallets by simply using a fingerprint. However, partner mobile payment systems are unclear, as neither Apple Pay nor Samsung Pay are used on third-party devices although Android Pay, Alibaba, or Tencent’s platforms could be used. 

The Vivo X6: a Phone with Mobile Payments on its Mind

December 2, 2015 By: Steven Anderson

For anyone who’s ever wanted a smartphone with mobile payments at its heart, vivo may have just the device, with the release of the upcoming X6.

A new teaser from the company shows one extra feature that will be a huge boost for mobile payments, along with some features seen previously.

The newest feature, from the trailer, is a fingerprint sensor that is said to boast 360-degree finger rotation capability. Used primarily as a biometric security function, users will not only be able to unlock the device, but will also be able to make payments from mobile payments platforms like Apple Pay and Samsung Pay using a fingerprint.

The teaser itself shows a fingerprint being actively scanned and then a receipt—in Chinese text under a bar code—printed up from a port directly under the fingerprint field.

Further word suggests that the device will pack in four gigabytes of RAM, making it effective in a variety of situations, along with a full gigabyte of memory specifically devoted to graphics. The device itself is said to be around four millimeters—0.15748 inches—thick, meaning it should offer maximum portability.

There are, however, still several unanswered questions around this device. First, vivo has not yet noted just which point of sale outlets will allow use of the X6, making it tough to tell just how much value it will carry.

Additionally, it’s unclear just which mobile payment system will be put to work with this system; Android Pay might be the safest bet, as it’s unlikely that either Apple Pay or Samsung Pay would be installed for use on a third-party device. Since Android Pay can be downloaded directly from the Google Play Store, putting it to work on the vivo X6 should be fairly simple.

That’s not the only option, though, as it could prove to work with Alibaba or Tencent’s platforms instead.

The vivo X6 will have its work cut out for it, though; even with users clearly interested in mobile payments—particularly in China, where mobile payments have been spotted involved in just about everything from purchasing a haircut to purchasing eels—there are still a lot of competitors in the region.

Entrenched rivals are already in place, and the vivo X6 is stepping into this market afresh. It will have an edge with that level of biometric security helping to keep things straight, but that’s still going to be a tall order to go against the established grain.

Still, with a fingerprint scanner in place and a steadily-increasing amount of interest involved, it’s clear that the vivo X6 is likely to be a device geared toward capitalizing on that interest. Only its final release will fill in the blanks still on hand, but Chinese users are likely to find this one a major backer for mobile payments.