Industry leaders - Maxis, Nokia, Maybank and Visa - Move beyond Pilot Phase to Make Paying by Mobile Phone a Reality in Malaysia
SAN FRANCISCO, Apr 09, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today announced the launch of the world's first
commercial Visa mobile payments service for point-of-sale transactions
using Near Field Communications (NFC) technology. The service marks the
first time consumers can purchase an NFC-enabled mobile device off the
shelf and use that device to make Visa payWave-enabled transactions at
the point-of-sale instead of using their payment card.
"We believe that Visa's NFC mobile payment launch in Malaysia signals a
tipping point for the payments industry globally as we move from mobile
payment pilots to commercial availability," said Elizabeth Buse, Global
Head of Product at Visa Inc. "Malaysia has historically been an early
adopter of new payment technologies. The launch of Visa's first
commercial NFC program in Malaysia is based on Visa's experience gained
from undertaking extensive pilot activities around the globe and is
something Visa plans to replicate in other places around the world."
Maxis - the largest wireless carrier in Malaysia with more than 11
million subscribers, Nokia - the world's leading handset manufacturer
and Maybank - a leading financial institution in Malaysia have teamed
with Visa to offer Visa payWave on mobile devices.
The service, launched today, allows Maybank Visa account holders to
simply wave their NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 classic handset in front of a
contactless reader to complete a secure Visa transaction in a matter of
seconds.
Maybank Visa account holders can download their Visa payWave credit
account details directly to their Nokia 6212 classic handset over the
Maxis wireless network. Once the account has been personalized on the
phone, account holders can then begin to make purchases at any one of
the 1,800 merchant outlets that currently accept Visa payWave in
Malaysia.
The contactless chip embedded in the device will also power a number of
additional functions, including a contactless transit application that
enables Malaysian commuters to pay for charges while using metropolitan
transit systems, bus terminals, highway toll gates and car park
facilities at more than 3,000 contactless payment touch points
throughout Malaysia. Maxis has branded these mobile payment services
under the name Maxis FastTap.
Dr Nikolai Dobberstein, Maxis' Senior Vice President of Strategy and New
Businesses said, "Maxis has been a long-standing partner of Visa in
Malaysia and is excited to be the first to market with a commercial Visa
payWave service on mobile devices. Our collaboration with Visa is part
of our wider NFC strategy which includes multiple applications including
mass transit, road tolling, parking, mobile marketing through smart
posters and of course retail payment through Visa payWave. We see this
announcement as important not only for consumers in Malaysia but for the
broader financial services and telecom industries because it serves as a
proof point that win-win business models are possible in mobile
commerce."
Momentum for Visa Mobile Payments Continues to Grow
Visa is driving the convergence of two of the world's most ubiquitous
consumer products, 1.7 billion Visa cards and 4 billion mobile phones,
by bringing its expertise in payments to the mobile industry. Over the
last two years, Visa has worked closely with mobile network operators,
handset manufacturers and financial institutions, merchants and
technology provider to develop and commercialize mobile payments and
related services.
Recent Visa mobile payment activities include:
- Visa announced last week that it is extending mobile payments to
Singapore in partnership with Citibank Singapore Limited and MobileOne
(M1). The Citi M1 Visa payWave payment trial on mobile devices marks
the first program in Singapore where a mobile device will be used for
payments at the point-of-sale.
More than 750 merchant locations across Singapore are participating in
the three-month pilot, which begins in May 2009. Up to 300 selected Citi
M1 Visa Platinum account holders will be invited to join. Participating
account holders will be provided a Nokia 6212 classic, the same
NFC-enabled handset used in the commercial launch in Malaysia.
Participating Citi M1 Visa Platinum account holders will be able to
purchase an item at a Visa payWave merchant in Singapore simply by
waving the mobile phone in front of a contactless reader at the point of
sale.
- In Canada, Visa, RBC, and Rogers Wireless have come together for the
next phase of a mobile payment pilot, which will ultimately allow
Canadians the flexibility to make purchases securely at the point of
sale with a wave of their mobile phone. Designed to be a fast and
convenient way for customers to pay for small purchases, pilot
participants will be issued specially-equipped mobile phones that can
simply be waved at Visa payWave-enabled checkout readers at
select retail stores and quick-service restaurants in Toronto's
downtown core.
About Visa
Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments
network providing processing services and payment product platforms.
This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments,
which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS
brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and
Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering
cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries. For more
information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
SOURCE: Visa Inc.
Visa Inc.
Elvira Swanson, 415-932-2564
[email protected]
or
Visa in Asia Pacific
Susan Williams, +65 6437 5659
[email protected]