Final answer:
When Beth taps her phone at a payment terminal to pay for a purchase, she is using mobile payment technology, which allows customers to make purchases using their smartphones and an app linked to their bank account or credit card.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Beth taps her phone at a payment terminal to pay for a purchase, she is using mobile payment technology. Mobile payment allows customers to make purchases using their smartphones and an app that is linked to their bank account or credit card. The payment terminal reads the information from the app and completes the transaction.
One popular example of mobile payment is Apple Pay, which uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to transmit the payment information from the phone to the payment terminal. When Beth taps her phone, the NFC technology allows the terminal to securely process the payment.
Mobile payment offers convenience and security for both customers and businesses. It eliminates the need to carry physical cash or cards and reduces the risk of card skimming or theft. It also provides a record of transactions for easier tracking and budgeting.