First Contactless Payment Ring, Launches on Kickstarter

LONDON, September 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Embargoed until: 12.01am 25th September 2015

Kerv (http://kerv.com ), the London fintech startup, today launches the world's first contactless payment ring on kickstarter.com in a bid to raise £77k mass-production capital via crowdfunding. 

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150923/269922 )

Kerv wearers can make instant contactless payments of £30 or lower with a single gesture - no card, PIN, or paired smartphone required. Accepted anywhere in the world that takes contactless payments, Kerv is always on 'your' hand, removing the need to carry a wallet, purse, cash or cards - perfect for those with active lifestyles. The Kerv ring never needs charging and doesn't need to be paired with a smartphone to work.

Kerv seamlessly blends form with function, creating a beautiful and understated piece of wearable tech which, uniquely, looks and feels nothing like a piece of wearable tech. Available in black or white, Kerv's sleek outer shell is engineered from zirconia ceramic, a material most often found in nuclear reactors and spacecraft and dental surgeries. Zirconia is lightweight, hypoallergenic and one of the most scratch-resistant materials on the planet, necessary for an item of functional jewellery designed to be worn all day, every day. Kerv is also waterproof.

Beyond retail payments, Kerv can be used on the Transport for London network (and other global cities' mass transit systems). Kerv also offers instant sharing of emergency, medical or contact details at the tap of an NFC-enabled phone, plus one-touch access via compatible NFC locks and security systems - which means even more pocket junk can be left at home.

Kerv founder, Philip Campbell, said, "Currently, wearable payment devices are either eye-wateringly expensive or thoroughly unattractive. But the biggest issue I have is that they're all worn on the wrist, which has to be placed flat against the contactless reader in a way that feels extremely unnatural and awkward. With a creative background - plus eight years' experience in payments - I felt we could do better. So we did, designing Kerv to be the most ergonomic, natural and convenient contactless payment method possible."

Phil continued: "We feel Kerv is a perfect fit for Kickstarter, but we don't just see the campaign as a way of raising the funds to take Kerv to mass production; we want to elicit the input and support of a community of forward-thinking individuals that have a real desire to help bring great products to market."

Kerv Chairman David Hunter added: "A lot of technology in payments strikes me as being a solution looking for a problem. I'm confident that Kerv will be well received on Kickstarter because it solves genuine problems, focuses on the user-experience and makes the underlying technology invisible."

Kerv, the world's first contactless payment ring, launches on Kickstarter today, Friday the 25th September at 7am GMT.

Editor's notes 

About Kerv, the world's first contactless payment ring: 

See more about Kerv, at: https://youtu.be/8b0EO1WGZks

• Make contactless NFC payments up to £30 (contactless payments limits vary by territory)
• Accepted at over 38 million locations worldwide
• Switch rings on and off, manage funds and receive transaction alerts  via app, SMS or website
• Link an optional contactless prepaid card to a Kerv account for higher-value transactions
• The Kerv account is governed by FCA regulations for the issuance of e-money
• Tap-in on tubes, trains and buses in the Transport for London network (and approx. 10 other transport networks around the world)
• Share personal data - such as contact, emergency or medical details - at the touch of an NFC-enabled smartphone
• Access home, office or lockers via compatible NFC-enabled locks
• Never needs charging and does not need to be paired with a smartphone to operate
• Waterproof and scratchproof
• Designed for men and women, Kerv is available in two styles and a wide range of sizes
• Estimated retail price is £49.99

Further information

Website: kerv.com
Kickstarter: http://ks.kerv.com (prior to 7am Friday 25th this is a preview only. Post 7am this will redirect to the live Kickstarter campaign)

Hi-res product image and Kerv logo available at http://kerv.com/PR

SOURCE Kerv