How is it possible to activate a credit card by tapping it against one’s phone?

Question

How is it possible to activate a credit card by tapping it against one’s phone?

In: 2

Answer 1

Modern contactless cards have microchips embedded inside them that gives off unique signals. But in order for that to work, the opposite technology has to exist (the ability to read and interpret the signals given off by a credit card). It used to be that only card readers like you see in stores had that reading technology, but now some phones have it as well. So basically, credit cards emit signals and phones can read those signals and interpret it