Swiss watch giant Swatch plans to equip its watches with an electronic payment function, the company announced Thursday, three days after Apple presented its Apple Watch.<\/p>\n
Swatch, the world’s largest watchmaking group, would cooperate with Chinese credit card organization China UnionPay, with a Swiss bank, and with a credit card company, chief executive Nick Hayek said in the Swiss town of Corgemont.<\/p>\n
Like Apple, Swatch wants to employ near field communication (NFC) technology, which is already being used for contactless credit card payment.<\/p>\n
Hayek made clear, however, that his company had no plans for developing a miniature wrist phone.<\/p>\n
The Apple Watch, which will be linked to a user’s iPhone and will be able to answer phone calls, will go on sale on April 24. The watch can also track users’ fitness vitals and exercise.<\/p>\n
Swatch had announced in February that it would launch its Touch Zero One in summer, a watch designed for tracking the training of beach volleyballers. Models for other sports and activities, such as surfing or cooking, are to follow.<\/p>\n
Apple Watch rip-offs sell for R500<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n