ALTOONA, Pa. — Sheetz convenience stores here and payment processor Wright Express, South Portland, Maine, have announced the launch of the first multi-city trial of a technology that enables drivers to make fuel purchases at Sheetz locations using their mobile phones.

Participating drivers will wirelessly download a fleet card into their specially enabled Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile phones. They will then be able to purchase fuel by tapping their phones at the contactless payment readers installed in more than 350 participating Sheetz locations throughout Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.

The pilot, which begins this month, is a first for Sheetz and Wright Express, who are collaborating with Vivotech, Santa Clara, Calif., in testing the technology. Drivers participating in the pilot are part of the Sheetz Business Advantage fleet program.

“There are indications that the wireless phone will be the electronic wallet of the future,” said Russ Lamer, Wright Express’ manager of emerging technologies.

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