Burger King Launches Mobile Payment Pilot Posted by Association of Vermont Credit Unions on 11:42 AM

Fast food chain Burger King has, according to American Banker, launched a smartphone application  that lets customers pay for food using QR codes displayed on the screens of their smartphones. The "BK Mobile Crown Card" program is being tested at about 50 restaurants around Salt Lake City. Burger King is working with payments technology company Firethorn Mobile. The application works on any Android or iOs phone and does not require new hardware. Customers will download the mobile phone app and use it to purchase a re-loadable BK Mobile Crown Card. Customers then pay for orders by opening the app on their smartphone and using it to scan the QR code appearing on counters and at drive thru windows. Purchases are debited directly from the prepaid BK Mobile Crown Card.

The announcement comes on the heels of news that Apple is adding its own digital card case for loyalty card and ticket apps that use barcodes. Apple's "Passbook" will be included in its updated mobile platform for the iPhone and iPad iOS 6.