PayPal and Samsung roll out new tech for Galaxy S5

PayPal and Samsung have collaborated to make Samsung Galaxy S5 users the first to be able to log in and shop at any merchant that accepts PayPal on mobile and in-stores using their fingerprint.



The new biometric feature means Galaxy S5 users will no longer need to remember passwords or login details. PayPal is touting itself as the first global payments company to support Samsung’s mobile fingerprint authentication technology.



According to both companies, using fingerprint authentication instead of a traditional login and password on the fifth generation Samsung Galaxy S5 — which launched this week at Mobile World Congress — allows consumers to benefit from an even more secure and seamless mobile and in-store shopping experience.



“We spearheaded the Fast IDentity Online Alliance last year and predicted that the industry would soon move beyond passwords, and this announcement brings us one step closer to that reality,” said Hill Ferguson, chief product officer for PayPal. “By working with Samsung to leverage fingerprint authentication technology on their new Galaxy S5, we are able to demonstrate that consumers don’t need to face a tradeoff between security and convenience. With a simple swipe of a finger, consumers can still securely log into their PayPal account to shop and pay with the convenience that mobile devices afford.”



FIDO Ready software on the device securely communicates between the fingerprint sensor on their device and PayPal’s service in the cloud, said the companies in a joint statement. They added that the only information the device shares with PayPal is a unique encrypted key that allows PayPal to verify the identity of the customer without having to store any biometric information on PayPal’s servers.



"We are very excited about our relationship with PayPal as it will bring one of the most trusted online payment solutions in the world to the broader mobile market," said Hankil Yoon, SVP of mobile product strategy. "Together with PayPal, we expect to provide our customers with a seamless and secure experience in online shopping and payments on our new Samsung Galaxy S5."



Starting in April, PayPal fingerprint authentication on the Samsung Galaxy S5 will be available in 26 markets globally, including Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S.