What do Coin, Plastc and Swyp have in common? They're all electronic cards that multiple other credit, debit, loyalty or gift cards can be digitally loaded onto – so you end up carrying around just one card, instead of a wallet full of them. Unfortunately, though, Coin is no longer being manufactured, and Plastc is out of business. That leaves the yet-to-be-released Swyp, which has a new competitor in the form of the Fuze Card.
Made by tech startup BrillianT, the Fuze can store the digital information of up to 30 other cards on its integrated encrypted chip (Swyp stores 25). Users initially get that information on there utilizing an included card reader, which they use with an iOS/Android app on their Bluetooth-paired smartphone.
From there, they just toggle through the stored cards by pressing Forward and Backward buttons on the card's surface. A small E-Paper screen indicates which card is selected. They can then use the Fuze just like they would a regular card, at any business supporting magstrip, EMV, NFC, and barcode cards.
The card will only work if their smartphone is within Bluetooth range, or if a PIN code is entered directly on the card itself.
Using the app, users can add and delete stored cards as needed (they can also remotely delete them all if the Fuze is lost), track the location of the card, plus the app will notify them if they wander off without the Fuze.
The card itself is 0.8 mm thick, and reportedly runs for 30 days per charge of its lithium-polymer battery. Its charger doubles as a power bank, so it can be recharged while on the move.
If you're interested in getting one, the Fuze Card is currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign. Pledges start at US$89, with delivery estimated for July – if everything works out.
There's more information in the following video.
Source: Indiegogo
