Final answer:
Mobile phones use NFC (Near Field Communication) chips to facilitate encrypted, contactless payments at checkout counters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology being used in new mobile phones for making payments at a checkout counter is NFC chips (Near Field Communication chips). NFC technology enables encrypted information exchange over a short distance, facilitating contactless transactions with a simple tap of the phone against a payment terminal. This very short range of data transfer is considered a security feature, as it minimizes the risk of interception by unauthorized devices.