Intel and MasterCard are working with vendor NXP to embed NFC-based technology in computing devices so that users can tap-and-pay with a contactless card or smartphone when using e-commerce services in the same way as they currently do at the retail point-of-sale.

The idea is to encourage greater e-commerce by making the payment process easier.  The tap-and-pay process would be an alternative to entering their credit card details manually, although frequently visited websites may already help users shortcircuit the process anyway.

Intel, which said it was working with MasterCard on this project two years ago, said NXP’s controller would be built into “select new computing devices”. Launch date was unspecified.

Online shoppers will need to tap with a MasterCard contactless card or NFC-based smartphone. Although not mentioned, presumably the latter will need to have downloaded the MasterPass payments app, in order to tap and make a payment.

MasterCard’s other efforts to make online payments more straightforward include a partnership with American Express and Visa on a framework for a new global standard that will remove the need for consumers to enter traditional account numbers when making a purchase. Instead they will use a digital payment “token” for transactions.