Zoosh does mobile payments using ultrasound, no NFC chip required

Zoosh. That can or will not be what an ultrasonic payment feels like to a dolphin, however it is easily the name of a brand new mobile wallet technology developed by Silicon Valley start-up, Naratte. While Google and other major players have enthusiastic about traditional radio-based NFC, Naratte have been quietly testing its ultrasound system instead, motivated by the truth that it may work on ordinary handsets without the will for specialised NFC circuitry. Two phones can “zoosh” one another using nothing but their built-in microphones and speakers, provided that they’re both running the required app. Moreover, Naratte claims that money tills could be upgraded to listen to the sweet jangle of ultrasonic cash for just $30 — around a 3rd of the price of installing radio-based NFC hardware. So who knows? The last time you came this near ultrasound was probably earlier than you were born, but sooner or later you could possibly end up using it to shop for diapers. Scary.