Revolution in payments straight from SCI-FI: subcutaneous implant from the Polish startup [interview]

Andrzej Mężyński: Where did the idea for a payment implant come from?

Wojciech Paprota (founder of Walletmor): I came up with this idea reading one of the SF books.It was smuggled in the thread of implants - for example, one of the characters used such a solution to open the door to the apartment.I found it a great idea with potential.That is why I contacted people from the USA who undertook to design and make such a device

How long did the work last and what took the most time?

Works from coming up with the idea to create a ready, working system took us 20 months.It took the most to refine certain technical and legal issues

What the approval for use looked like.Did the implant have to undergo tests at FDA or EMA?

The implant is made of a biopolymer, which must meet the appropriate standards, as well as from medical plastic from which medical devices are made.The device was therefore approved by the FDA and obtained ISO 19003 standards.You also have to remember that this is not a medical product, so there are no specific procedures that such an implant must pass

If we are on safety issues, what about air travels or medical tests?

Our US laboratory has conducted appropriate tests.Both on board the aircraft, with magnetic resonance imaging, safety gates, etc., no negative implant influence on the work of medical or aviation equipment was found

What about the battery?

Walletmor is a passive tag NFC.This means that it does not need any power supply.The payment terminal, which sends waves, is an active tag.When they encounter an implant, they receive feedback from it

How long can Walletmor work?

Over 100 years without failure

What about transaction security?

The technologies are the same as in the case of cards, for this the implant supports the 3D Secure protocol.There is no possibility to break into it or capture the signal.You would have to close the false implant terminal very carefully, and yet the criminal does not know where exactly he is implanted.

What does the account creation procedure look like and how is the implant to pay?

We need an iCard account that works like prepaid cards.We transfer funds to them, then we provide the implant activation code and we can already pay, like a regular card, at any point supporting wireless payments.

Is it possible to pay Polish gold?

Unfortunately, no, Icard does not support our currency, we can have an account in dollars, euro, Swiss franc, British pound and a few other currencies.However, he does not use any spread, and for converting is a minimum commission of 0.7-09 percent, i.e. the cost is practically imperceptible.

What about online payments?

Unfortunately, Walletmor has no such possibilities.To pay online, we need a real card that can be ordered for iCard.

Can the implant be introduced under the skin yourself?

Theoretically yes.However, due to the fact that it is a violation of the tissue structure, we recommend using the clinic network and body modification studies with which we have signed partner agreements.So that the device is introduced under the skin under the control of a professional

Is there the cost of his "installation" in the implant price?

No, you have to pay extra for it

How many implants have you sold in the world?

For now, we are operating in the European Union, Switzerland and Great Britain.In total, we sold 100 implants, including 33 in Poland

What are your plans for the future?

We want to reduce the implant size so that it can be introduced under the skin with an injection, we also plan to create our own platform on which - instead of ICard - you can manage your account and transfers.For this we want to enable the use of additional functions.

What?

Even cooperation with electronic locks in homes, cards for hotel rooms, enable coding of public transport tickets on it, or allow it to enter it from our business cards.