Airtel Payments Bank, Noise & NPCI unveil NCMC-enabled smartwatch

By Gloria Mathias

Airtel Payments Bank, in collaboration with Noise, India’s smartwatch and connected lifestyle brand, and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), have announced the launch of its upcoming NCMC (National Common Mobility Card)-enabled smartwatch, integrated with the RuPay chip.

The Bank displayed the prototypes of this smartwatch at the Global FinTech Fest 2024. This innovative smartwatch, conceptualized by Noise, brings the future of payments to the user’s wrist, blending advanced lifestyle features with the convenience of NCMC-enabled Tap and Pay transactions.

This launch marks the second phase of the successful partnership between Airtel Payments Bank and Noise, building on the initial efforts to redefine on-the-go payments directly from their smartwatches.

The NCMC-enabled smartwatch is set to augment the potential of smart wearables by integrating seamless transactions into daily lives. The Airtel Payments Bank Smartwatch is engineered to revolutionize payments, offering ease and accessibility. With NCMC integration, users will enjoy the convenience of tap-and-pay transactions at merchant locations as well as NCMC-enabled transit payments across metro systems, buses, parking facilities and more nationwide.

Additionally, it supports the issuance of transport concessions and monthly passes, where applicable, by transport operators, making daily commutes hassle-free. Crafted with an embedded RuPay chip in the dial, this smartwatch allows users to indulge in a more secure and flexible lifestyle experience.

Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, Chief Operating Officer of Airtel Payments Bank, said, “We are delighted to introduce the NCMC-enabled Smartwatch, a product that embodies our commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions. This smartwatch simplifies financial transactions and enriches the daily lives of our users with its advanced features. We believe this launch will set a new standard in the wearable payment device market as well.”

Amit Khatri, Co-Founder of Noise, said, “As we enter this second phase of our partnership with Airtel Payments Bank, our collaboration with NPCI marks a significant step forward in this journey. By integrating NCMC into our smartwatch, we are not just unlocking new potential for wearables but also pioneering a new era of digital payments in India.”