[jen20]

> it's generally the case that a less developed, up-and-coming economy will have new stuff quicker.

My credit card in the UK had chip-and-PIN in 2004 - it was probably around earlier too, though less common. Almost every bank card issued has had contactless for over 10 years too. Simply being a developed economy is not the only reason!

[sandos]

I was using something called "cash" (I think? Not sure) I think here in Sweden in the 90s, probably around 1998, which was chip but NO pin, ie. just like cash, if you lost your card you lost the cash.. That was supported in a very few places but I was constantly nagging shops to support it.

This was then gone for a good while, whereas today I guess its back in a way, you get some kinds oy payments (food etc) without pin, and a few others, until it will require a pin, then allows a few more pin-less buys, but I think it also depends on the sum.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

Oh come on! Everybody knows the UK didn't even have banking until Oasis released their first single! Sometimes it gets hard living in the USA, where we have to invent everything for everybody else all the time.