Amstrad has incorporated a credit card slot in its e-m@iler phone terminal - a slimmed-down alternative to the PC replete with keyboard and screen and designed to provide SMS, e-mail and Internet access in the home.
Retailing at around £49, the e-m@iler is already installed in 250,000 homes in the UK. Amstrad says the card reader functionality has been incorporated to piggy-back on the UK's conversion to Chip and PIN authorisation for secure payments at retailer terminals.
E-m@iler users will be able to select their purchase, insert the card and enter their four-digit PIN for added security when purchasing online.