Credit card payments evolve beyond mobile wallet

Mobile wallets can make paying by credit or debit card seamless: Tap your phone at checkout and you’re on your way. But mobile wallets are just the beginning. Payment networks and manufacturers are building payment functions into more devices — expanding your options as well as freeing up your hands.

You could find yourself buying gas from the dashboard of your car, groceries from your refrigerator door or dinner by flashing a smile. And you won't even need your phone with you to make purchases on the go.

Payment options already available or on the horizon include:

• Wearables. Connected “smart” accessories such as watches, bands and rings.

• Virtual assistants. When voice payments are enabled on virtual assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home, you can multitask and take care of “errands” with verbal commands.

• Cars. Visa and Mastercard are working with manufacturers to embed options in car models. Manufacturers are also testing ways to pay for gas, groceries, takeout and metered parking.

• Appliances. A glimpse of what's possible: Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator, which lets you order groceries from an app.

• Your body. Biometric payments make it possible to pay by voice, face, iris scan or fingerprint. — Melissa Lambarena, Nerdwallet