"Our competition, so to speak, is paper," he said, since that's just about the only form of payment that doesn't use a network like Visa's. Some consumers will opt to use several devices, while others may depend on only one. Because they work with the current payment infrastructure, companies like Stratos hope they can move wherever the industry takes them. Olson said he envisions working with Visa and others to issue their own branded smart cards. Stratos currently offers a $100 annual subscription service so customers who sign up can receive cards with newer technology a flat rate every year. Olson hopes to expand the service alongside the app into a money management program that will help consumers manage their finances.

One suggestion: A way to trigger the right card to maximize rewards points when you're, say, at the movies, booking a hotel total protection iphone 6s / 6 case & screen protector pack - clear reviews or buying plane tickets, Ideally, Stratos could move into providing a platform for what Olson calls virtual cards, Instead of being issued new loyalty, credit or debit cards, companies down the line may be able to generate virtual cards that load directly into Stratos' app, Then with just a tap, the card could be ready for use on Stratos, which he hopes will have biometric fingerprint reading technology in the future..

Even so, Stratos and others could face a hard sell. "This could have taken off a couple of years ago," said Mulpuru. "They're a day late and a dollar short. The industry has completely changed."CNET's Ben Fox Rubin contributed to this report. Mobile payments is a crowded industry, but is one card for storing all your credit cards more practical than we think?. With a Chipotle burrito in one hand, I handed the cashier a credit card lined with miniature computer parts. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion.

It works like this: a card -- not unlike the form factor of magnetic stripe cards total protection iphone 6s / 6 case & screen protector pack - clear reviews you currently carry -- is embedded with a Bluetooth connection, which it uses to act as a variety of cards, That smart card can act as your mileage rewards card, your debit card, and even your in-store club card, Since Coin's introduction in 2013, at least three comparable solutions have entered the space: Swyp, Stratos and Plastc, You'll have to wait to get them, though, Plastc, Swyp, Stratos and Coin are currently taking pre-orders-- but if it sounds like an appealing alternative to mobile payments, getting one of these cards might be worth the the wait..

I reached out to four card makers, and none but Stratos could provide review units. The companies are either committing to giving their early backers the first units, or aren't ready for distribution just yet. Once more review units are available, we'll do a real-world road test. Until then, we know enough about how these cards work and what they do to give you a comprehensive comparison. The selling point on smart credit cards is that they offer convenience. Instead of crowding your wallet with many cards (including gift cards and club cards), one digital card represents them all.