For the past few years, mobile payment solutions have relied on fingerprint scanning as a security measure and also to authenticate that the person using the phone is who they say they are. However Samsung will be giving Samsung Pay users a new option, and that is through iris scanning.
The app has recently been updated with iris scanner support, although we guess this seems to be aimed more at Galaxy Note 7 owners because as it stands, the Note 7 is the only handset in Samsung’s portfolio that has iris scanning technology. However in the past Samsung did hint that iris scanners could find their way to mid-range handsets, so we guess that’s something to look forward to.
It’s an odd time to be pushing out the update considering the snafu Samsung has had with the Note 7 and the exploding batteries. In fact customers who are holding onto their Note 7 handsets should definitely return them. Last we heard, about 25% of Note 7 handsets in the US have since been returned, and Samsung claims that they have 500,000 units that were shipped to the US to retailers and carriers, so really you have no excuse not to return it.
However we suppose when you do get your replacement unit, you will be able to take advantage of this feature. Will it be more convenient that using your fingerprint, especially since you have to lift your phone to your face? It doesn’t really sound like it, but the option is there should you wish to make use of it.
Filed in . Read more about Samsung, Samsung Pay and Security.