Remember, this has applications outside of just credit cards. For instance our school could use it to scan student ID cards (to count people or charge fees for events). It could also be used as a way for exibitors to collect your information form a conference badge,
I agree with kagayaki, Bluetooth really has many more +'s over IR (in not only this application but others as well). Pretty soon you will be able to use Bluetooth with almost any printer where as with IR you have to have a printer with IR on it.