has announced that it is shutting down the service on Feb. 8, which launched last spring on iOS Android. Available only at select locations like McDonalds pa s in the Bay Area, the program required users to upload a photo in the Hs Free app utilized Bluetooth, -Fi, location services in your phone to identify when you were at one of the participating locations. According to ’s description of the service, “Then, if you purchase from a store that uses a Hs Free camera, will confirm your identity automatically by detecting specific patterns from the template created during signup. The cashier will initiate the charge you’ll get a notification on your phone after the charge is complete.” During the transaction, the cashier would only see the user’s initials, first name, photo, keeping payment information credit card numbers hidden. Contactless payments have been rapidly spreading across country, ’s idea with Hs Free was to “explore what the future of mobile payments could look like.” ile it’s not entirely clear why is stopping the program, it writes on the Hs Free website that “we’re now working to bring the best of the Hs Free technology to even more people stores.” Did I miss something: Unfortunately, Hs Free never made it out of pilot mode was extremely limited, so there’s a good change you’ve never used or even heard of the program. However, the concept of being able to pay quickly securely without pulling out your phone or reaching for your wallet is certainly intriguing, it’s likely that will take what it learned apply it to Android y down the road, perhaps tapping Assistant as it works to bring the service nationwide.
