Mobile Payment Magazine

Record Attendance at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona

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The GSMA today reported that more than 60,000* visitors from 200 countries attended the 2011 GSMA Mobile World Congress, marking a record for the mobile industry’s premier event. The four-day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the world’s largest and most influential mobile operators, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies and media and entertainment organisations, as well as government delegations. 51 per cent of this year’s Mobile World Congress attendees hold C-level positions, including more than 3,000 CEOs.

“The record attendance to this year’s Mobile World Congress is indicative of the impact and importance of mobile in not only technology and telecommunications, but across nearly all facets of the private and public sectors,” stated John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. “Mobile truly is leading a transformation in how the world communicates, how business is conducted and how people live their lives. We are very proud of the contribution that the GSMA and the Mobile World Congress have in furthering this transformation.”

The 2011 Congress hosted nearly 1,400 exhibiting companies and occupied more than 58,600 net square metres of exhibition and business meeting space.  More than 2,900 international print, Web and broadcast media attended the event to analyse and report on the many significant industry announcements made at the Congress.

Mobile World Congress: Unparalleled Conference Program

During the event, CEOs from companies including America Movil, AT&T, China Mobile, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Google, HTC, Intel, Microsoft, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Qualcomm, Research In Motion (RIM), SoftBank, Telefonica, Twitter, Vodafone, Wholesale Applications Community (WAC), WPP and Yahoo!, discussed and debated the trends and issues which are shaping the mobile industry today and into the future.  In addition to the keynote programme, the Mobile World Congress conference covered a range of topics, such as applications, mobile advertising, mobile money, mobile health, embedded mobile, cloud computing, network capacity and next-generation network technologies, among many others.

Developers Descend on App Planet

There were more than 45,000 visits to App Planet, a focused event designed to bring together the many critical elements of the broad mobile application ecosystem together in one location. Companies including developerprogram.com, HP, IMGA, Microsoft, Mobile {Dev}Sync, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, WAC and Wireless Industry Partnership each held application developer conferences (ADCs), and App Planet also hosted Macworld Mobile, a developer event targeting Apple iOS developers. App Planet included the Mobile Cloud Forum, sponsored by Cisco, HP, Huawei and NEC, and the LTE Forum, sponsored by Huawei, NEC, Syniverse and ZTE. Overall, more than 12,000 developers attended Mobile World Congress this year.

Unprecedented Attendance by the World’s Government Delegations

The GSMA’s Ministerial Programme also boasted record attendance, with government delegations from 131 countries meeting in Barcelona, an increase of 50% over 2010.  Sponsored this year by Saudi Telecom (Platinum Sponsor), Huawei and Qualcomm (Gold Sponsors), the GSMA’s Ministerial Programme is a unique invitation-only event gathering ministers, regulators and CEOs from across the mobile industry for a series of in-depth strategic, policy and regulatory discussions in high-level summits and bilateral meetings.

Mobile World Congress 2012

“The GSMA is committed to holding the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona through 2012,” continued Hoffman. “We thank the city of Barcelona, the Government of Catalonia, Fira de Barcelona and all our Barcelona partners for supporting and contributing to such an amazing event, and we look forward to returning to the city next year.”

Dates for the 2012 Mobile World Congress are 27 February – 1 March, 2012.

For more information on the 2011 Mobile World Congress, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com.

ClairMail Announces New Mobile Fraud Management Solution for Financial Institutions

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ClairMail has announced a new mobile fraud management solution for Financial Institutions (FIs) and their customers to oversee and quickly respond to fraudulent transactions directly through the mobile channel. ClairMail’s Fraud Solution works with existing FI fraud systems and processes to help mitigate card, Direct Deposit Account (DDA), online banking and identity fraud by leveraging all the capabilities of the ubiquitous mobile device and the robust alerting and orchestration capabilities of the ClairMail platform.

ClairMail’s Fraud Solution is the first release of a family of business-level solutions that demonstrate how the mobile channel can power new mobile capabilities, products and packages across the entire enterprise while bolstering the value and return on investment the mobile channel brings to the institution. Mobile banking has largely been viewed as an extension of online banking, but by implementing a solution that is scalable across bank functions and products, like ClairMail’s Fraud Solution, FI’s can drive new fee-based services, reduce servicing and risk management costs, enhance customer loyalty and acquisition and increase mobile banking adoption.

“While more consumers are adopting mobile banking, the full value of the mobile channel has yet to be realized. Consumers and FIs will gain the most benefit when they can leverage the unique features of the mobile device,” said Pete Daffern, CEO of ClairMail. “Enabling consumers to monitor, respond and resolve fraudulent transactions on their mobile device not only deepens the relational trust between that customer and their bank, it reduces costs for everyone by reducing false positives and minimizing the cost and time of fraud resolution. ClairMail’s Fraud Solution demonstrates our continual commitment to leverage the unique attributes of the mobile channel to help financial institutions strategically grow their mobile initiative to meet customer demand and achieve profitability.”

Recent studies have shown that a huge percentage of fraud loss to both consumers and the bank happen in a relatively short time window following an intrusion. While ClairMail’s Fraud Solution compliments existing fraud systems, it takes fraud prevention further by enabling FIs to generate and deliver real-time, consumer-defined alerts that allow customers to monitor account spending and identify fraudulent transactions more quickly. In addition, ClairMail’s Fraud Solution extends existing fraud detection and mitigation processes by using timely two-way alerts and workflow orchestration to verify potentially fraudulent transactions, more quickly detect false positives and bring to resolution any potential fraud incident – all from the mobile device. ClairMail’s reporting capabilities also provide pertinent information as to which alerts are being responded to and which are not, furthering the customizability, relevance and cost-effectiveness for the FI.

ClairMail’s Fraud Solution leverages the alert and orchestration engines of its  mobile platform:

  • Lowers fraud risk and associated costs for both the bank and consumer through early detection of fraudulent activity using ClairMail’s alerting engine that delivers timely, actionable consumer or FI-driven alerts enabling consumers to instantly identify suspect transactions, respond, and resolve potential fraud incidents right from the mobile device. Alert escalation and workflow capabilities ensure that user commands on the mobile device and required communication with the institution’s back-end systems are coordinated as part of a single set of detection and resolutions processes.
  • Reduces reputational risk and improves customer loyalty and acquisition by becoming a trusted partner with the consumer in the war against fraud and offering safer and more feature-rich card and bank services.
  • Create product differentiation and new revenue opportunities by introducing new fee-based products, services and offers driven by consumer alert preferences.

“The mobile channel has become an essential tool for financial institutions to combat increasing fraud rates seen across the United States and Europe, providing the ability for customers to proactively detect and prevent fraud activity on their accounts,” said Julie McNelley, senior analyst at Aite Group’s Retail Banking practice. “ClairMail’s new mobile fraud solution demonstrates the growing importance for FIs to take a strategic approach to mobile banking – extending mobile capabilities across the organization to create new fee-based services and products, help increase profitability, mitigate fraud losses and enhance the trust and relationship between the FI and its customers.”

Source: ClairMail

NFC Mobile Payments Will Be Big Business for Google, Says Schmidt

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Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, thinks wireless transactions, enabled by the coming wave of Android smartphones outfitted with near-field communication (NFC) technology, could turn into a serious business for the company.

Speaking to a small group of reporters late Tuesday after his keynote presentation at the Mobile World Congress here, Schmidt said Google could work with advertisers to “extend offers to phones with NFC chips.” Advertisers, he said, were interested in combining an ad and an offer, presumably at the point of sale.

via NY Times.

300,000+ Android Phone Activations Per Day, Says Schmidt

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According to Google CEO Eric Schmidt, more than 300,000 Android phones are activated every day, double the number of activations reported just six months ago.

Canalys reported that in Q4 2010 the Android O.S. was the world’s best-selling smartphone platform, dethroning Nokia’s Symbian from the 10-year top position. According to Gartner, Symbian is still slightly ahead on sales if some legacy non-Nokia Symbian smartphones are included in the Q4 2010 figures.

Android has a large community of developers writing application programs (“apps“) that extend the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 200,000 apps available for Android. Android Market is the online app store run by Google, though apps can also be downloaded from third-party sites. Developers write primarily in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.

References: GigaOm; Wikipedia

M-PESA Wins “Mobile Money for the Unbanked” Award

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Safaricom’s M-PESA has won the Mobile Money for the Unbanked Award at this year’s Global Mobile Awards 2011 which is being held in Barcelona, Spain between February 14th and 17th.

The M-PESA service was launched in March 2007. As of the end of 2010, the service had over 13.5 million customers countrywide. More than 400 organizations acceppt Bill Payment via M-PESA. The service does not require users to have a bank account; an important aspect in Kenya, where millions of people do not have a bank account. With M-PESA, account holders can buy electronic funds at an M-PESA agent and send the electronic value to any other mobile phone user in the country, who can then redeem it for conventional cash at any M-PESA agent. The awards are part of the annual Mobile World Congress which brings together players in the global telecoms market and is organized by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association).

The “Mobile Money for the Unbanked” award category recognizes innovative, sustainable, pioneering mobile money services around the world that bring low-cost financial services, through mobile, within the reach of low income groups. The award recognizes the mobile money service that has had the most significant impact on unbanked customers in developing markets over the last year.

The win extends a five times winning streak by Safaricom M-PESA at the GSMA conference in over a three year period, and is a fitting recognition of its leadership in Mobile Money services.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore exalted in the win and said it was a validation of ongoing work to expand the M-PESA service in line with meeting the needs of the Kenyan customer.

“I am delighted and congratulate the M-PESA team. This shows that we are leading the evolution of mobile money from simple transfer to a total mobile commerce solution,” he said.

The judges said in their citation: “The success story continues. This solution is enhanced further with the addition of new features and territories. It is winning ground in a way seldom seen in the mobile industry and is a true and sustained success story.”

This years entry, put together jointly with Vodafone, covered M-PESA in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, M-Paisa in Afghanistan, India and Fiji, and Vodafone Money Transfer in Qatar, bringing together the strengths and benefits of the service to the firm’s customers across the group.,

The GSMA, which organizes the awards, represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organizations.

Since the launch of M-PESA in just over 3 years, M-PESA has bagged a total of 12 international awards in its contribution to offering financial inclusion to the un-banked in Kenya.

Source: Safaricom

BillingTree Mobile Applications Now Available to Pulaski Electric System Customers

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Pulaski Electric System is using BillingTree’s  suite of mobile applications for electronic bill notification and payments via SMS/Text capable mobile devices.

The solution developed for Pulaski combines Kaizen Communications’ ability to send SMS/Text bill notifications using Kaizen’s Kpay platform while the payment authorization and settlement is handled by BillingTree.

As part of the new BillingTree/Kaizen partnership, the solution offers a seamless method for billers to notify their customers of a balance due then enables account holders to authorize payment from multiple pre-registered payment forms, including ACH, credit and debit accounts.

”Initially, I expected the 20-30 age group to sign up for the mobile program, but we had customers in their 50s and 60s signing up as well. It has been very well received by our customers. We publicized it through the radio and of our walk-ins the day of the launch, 30% signed up,” stated Daryl Williamson Vice President of Customer Support at Pulaski Electric Systems. “At Pulaski, we provide every avenue possible for the customer to take care of business with 15% of customers accepting bill notifications via the web and 10% of them paying online. We anticipate similar results through the text program.”

Additional components of BillingTree’s new Mobile Solutions Suite include small screen optimized payment forms for web enabled Smart phones and tablets plus the ability to remotely fund pre-paid service accounts within BillingTree’s Pre-FundTM solution.

Pre-Fund, a BillingTree joint solution with Lightstorm Global offers billers a pre-paid alternative to extending short term credit for consumption based services such as utilities and elective healthcare. The mobile suite extends to web enabled mobile devices the ability for customers to set up and add funds into earmarked accounts in order to maintain necessary minimum available funds.

The Mobile Suite’s web form optimization enables BillingTree customers utilizing online payment portals to scale for smaller mobile sized screens. The ability to adequately view and populate payment account information on additional resolutions expands the functionality of current payment portals to web connected hand held and tablet devices.
“The rapid mainstream adoption of text messaging and demand for increased mobile commerce alternatives is shifting electronic bill presentment and payment from what previously was managed primarily on the desktop to the handheld device,” said Scott McCollum, BillingTree’s President. “Our Mobile Suite of solutions delivers what many of our customers have been calling for and will continue to expand as mobile device technology evolves.”

BillingTree supplies the leading fully integrated, multi-channel electronic payment platform to a growing list of Industries, including Utilities, such as power, cable, municipal, and phone, as well as Healthcare, Insurance and Subscription-billed services. Benefits of electronic payment solutions include an accelerated availability of consumer funds, reduced costs associated with manual-payment processing, improved cash management, and integrated processing by managing all payments, returns, and corrections through a single portal.

Visa Interested in Mobile Payment Company Square?

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There was a very complimentary and “loving” Valentine’s day post about Jack Dorsey’s mobile payment company Square on Visa’s corporate blog. Why is Visa posting such a piece? According to Venturebeat, there are several possible reasons:

“First, Visa may be starting to understand that businesses are continuing to tailor to the mobile consumer. If you want to sell to the mobile consumer, you may have to be mobile. Second, the blog was written by Visa Corporate Relations and might be looking to strike a partnership. Though interestingly, Square is using a Visa card in its demo image see image above. Enabling purchases to be versatile and available anywhere could greatly increase Visa’s attractiveness to both businesses and consumers.Lastly, perhaps Visa is looking to get on Square’s radar for an acquisition.”

via VentureBeat.

51% of Britons “Uncomfortable” at the Prospect of Contactless Mobile Payments, According to Survey

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A new poll by global research and technology firm Vision Critical shows that Britons are wary of mobile NFC contactless payments—with women voicing particular unease about the security implications.

Consumers are distinctly uncomfortable with contactless payments made through their mobile device. In the survey, half of respondents (51%) report being fairly or very uncomfortable at the prospect. Women are particularly skeptical; but there is a niche of young men and current smartphone users who support the practice.

More consumers trust banks to operate a mobile payment platform than card providers, mobile operators or handset manufacturers.

Two-in-five respondents (41%) favor debiting funds from a current bank account, while one-in-five (20%) would prefer a dedicated “mobile wallet” account for the purpose of making mobile payments. Mobile payments would decrease the use of cash and debit cards more than credit cards with one third of respondents (33%) saying they would spend a lot or a little less with cash and debit cards. One-in-five respondents (22%) would spend less on their credit cards with the advent of mobile payments.

“Mobile payments have been talked about for years, and it looks like they’re finally going to get off the ground,” said Mike Stevens, Head of Research at Vision Critical’s London office. “But a lot of people are clearly uncomfortable. There is a perceived security risk that will need to be addressed as services are rolled out. Banks could play a strong role here; they are generally more trusted by their customers than other players in the mobile payments game.”

Source: Vision Critical

Intuit Extends Free Card Reader Offer for GoPayment System

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Intuit has extended its introductory offer of a free GoPayment mobile payment app for processing credit cards, along with a free credit card reader and no monthly fee.

Intuit first made the offer in early January. Due to a high level of demand, Intuit will continue the offer indefinitely so that the smallest of small businesses, such as dog walkers, nannies and jewelry makers, can affordably start processing credit cards on their mobile phones. Since the initial offer, Intuit has more than tripled the number of customers signing up for GoPayment each day.

“With our original announcement of GoPayment’s free credit card reader and no monthly fee, we hoped to make it more affordable for any person in business no matter how small,” said Chris Hylen, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division.

“The strong demand we’ve seen confirmed our beliefs. We are therefore continuing the offer as we now know for certain that it’s meeting the mobile payment needs of both the person who makes an occasional sale to the hundreds of thousands of small businesses that have relied on us for years to get paid.”

GoPayment was introduced two years ago as one of the first mobile payment services on the market. It was designed to help people easily and quickly get paid via their mobile devices wherever they do business. GoPayment is available for iOS, Android and Blackberry.

GoPayment has no long-term contracts, cancellation, gateway or set-up fees, and up to 50 users can use a single account.

More information: GoPayment

Source: Business Wire

Western Union Partners with Etisalat to Provide International Mobile Money Transfers

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Western Union and Etisalat Group, a mobile phone company in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, will introduce Western Union Mobile Money Transfer service in the 18 countries where Etisalat operates.

Once agreements are signed between Western Union and Etisalat’s mobile network operators and the service is introduced, it will enable Etisalat’s subscribers to send and receive Western Union money transfer transactions using their mobile “wallets,” or accounts tied to their mobile phones. Subscribers who initiate transactions from their mobile phones would be able to send funds to a receiver for cash payout at more than 400,000 Western Union Agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In addition, Etisalat subscribers would be able to send funds to other selected mobile subscribers who have mobile wallets.

“Our research shows that many of our customers want to send and receive money via electronic channels like the mobile phone,” said Khalid Fellahi, Senior Vice President of Electronic Channels, Western Union. “This alliance with Etisalat will offer the company’s extensive subscriber base a convenient service they can use anywhere, anytime.”

Etisalat subscribers who receive a Western Union money transfer in their mobile wallets would be able to use the funds to pay bills, top up airtime, send money domestically or internationally, or withdraw cash at a cash-out agent or any participating ATM.

Commenting on the alliance, Essa Al-Haddad, Etisalat’s Group Chief Marketing Officer, said: “Etisalat’s association with Western Union is a substantiation of our relentless commitment to increase the reach of our customers by offering innovative services. This strategic alliance will help us leverage each other’s experience and strengths – including our strong base of subscribers and award-winning customer service and Western Union’s expertise in moving money around the globe and their well-known brand – to enable customers to send and receive money using their mobile phones.”

Rashed Alabbar, Etisalat’s Director of Mobile Commerce, said, “This agreement with Western Union is part of Etisalat’s broader mobile commerce strategy to offer innovative and cost-effective mobile payment applications to our 135 million mobile customers across our operations in 18 countries, including the UAE. Etisalat has been a leader in providing innovative mCommerce services in the UAE, and this association will enable us to extend the reach of our services across the globe.”

In 2010, Etisalat Group closed the year by reaching 135 million customers, and 2% revenue growth over 2009.

Western Union offers the Mobile Money Transfer Service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Kenya with Safaricom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in Canada with EnStream. In addition, consumers can now visit one of more than 80,000 Western Union Agent locations in 48 countries to send money directly to a mobile wallet in select countries. Western Union also has agreements with other mobile operators and banks to introduce the service in the future.

Source: Business Wire