Airtel Payments Bank unveiled a smartwatch compatible with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) technology in collaboration with Noise and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 on Wednesday. The Airtel Payments Bank smartwatch is equipped with an embedded RuPay chip that enables transactions to be made from the user’s wrist. It has been launched as a payments and fitness solution, with health and fitness monitoring features built into the device. This announcement comes a day after the Indian telco shut down its Wynk Music streaming service in favour of new bundles offering Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
Features of Airtel Payments Bank Smartwatch
The Airtel Payments Bank smartwatch is equipped with a RuPay chip embedded in the watch face for direct payments on the go, the company said in a press release. It also offers integration with NCMC, which enables tap-and-pay transactions. Thanks to this integration, the smartwatch supports payments at merchant establishments and on transportation systems in metros, buses, parking lots, and more in India. Users can choose to enable or disable contactless payments from the smartwatch.
Additionally, issuance of transport concessions and monthly passes, where applicable, may also be considered. Users can also make payments at contactless terminals, up to a limit of Rs 5,000 without entering their PIN. Payments above the above limit will require entry of the PIN code.
The new Airtel Payments Bank smartwatch is also equipped with traditional health and fitness monitoring features such as blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure measurement. It is also claimed to be capable of tracking 130 sports modes and users can personalise it with a choice of over 150 cloud-based watch faces.
The smartwatch also supports Bluetooth calling and comes with IP68 water and dust resistance. Airtel says it has a TFT LCD display with a brightness of 550 nits. It also displays notifications, call reminders, and messages when connected to the smartphone, similar to other smartwatches. The Airtel Payments Bank smartwatch promises a battery life of up to 10 days on a single charge.
The price of the Airtel Payments Bank smartwatch in India has not been announced, though the company says it will soon be available for purchase through the bank's online and retail platforms.