NETS,
SingTel and UOB launch a NFC Pilot in Singapore using ViVOtech’s
OTA Technology
ViVOtech
enables First Real-Time Coupon Redemption System as well as Stored
Value Purse and Over-The-Air Top-Up for NFC Mobile Phones
SANTA
CLARA, Calif. -- September 10, 2008 – Silicon Valley-based
ViVOtech, the leader in Near Field Communication (NFC) and contactless
payment systems, announced today that its NFC mobile payment wallet,
Over-the-Air (OTA) payment, coupon delivery and redemption technologies
are being used jointly by NETS, SingTel and United Overseas Bank
Ltd. (UOB) for an ongoing NFC mobile phone payment trial in Singapore.
The solution is the first in which users simply open a coupon on
their NFC-enabled phones and flash it to a NETS FlashPay reader
for automatic redemption. The trial also introduced the first Stored
Value Purse in Asia on NFC mobile phones and Over-the-Air (OTA)
servers to enable downloading and top-up of stored value accounts
on the NFC phones, as announced in September 2007.
“We are
gratified to have been selected for this innovative pilot by NETS
& SingTel,” said Michael Mullagh, ViVOtech CEO. “Consumers
are excited to use their mobile phones to make payments and participate
in promotion programs. At ViVOtech, we are building solutions that
support the entire NFC ecosystem so users can make everyday payments,
ride transportation, secure ticketing and get savings coupons easily
through their mobile phones.”
“NETS’
long partnership with ViVOtech on contactless readers and mobile
phone payments continues to pay off as we deliver our customers
cutting-edge applications for payments and promotions. ViVOtech’s
software products for NFC-based mobile phone couponing and payments,
completed with Over-the-Air capabilities, further extend the value
of the NETS products we already deliver in this region.”
In the pilot
program, SingTel users can download a SingTel wallet application
that will allow them to store and top up value on the mNETS payment
application in their phones at any time. Users are then able to
make payments using NETS FlashPay by merely flashing their SingTel
mobile phones at more than 500 participating merchants island wide,
each one equipped with ViVOpay 5000 NETS FlashPay contactless terminals.
Topping up of the mNETS card is performed over the air anytime and
anywhere from the phone after registration of a SingTel-UOB credit
card.
The SingTel
wallet is also equipped with an electronic coupon application that
provides SingTel customers with discounts and other incentives and
freebies. A simple flash of NFC-powered mobile phone on mNETS posters
or at other smart billboards will initiate an OTA download of the
mNETS Coupon that is affiliated with the promotion. Again, users
simply flash the Coupon on NETS FlashPay readers for the coupon
to be automatically redeemed.
The mobile payment
initiative is part of NETS’ and SingTel’s vision of
bringing mobile payments to Singaporeans. NETS is studying this
initiative under its broader mNETS strategy to make mobile payments
pervasive across the Singapore economy.
To
date, ViVOtech has enabled more than 25 NFC phone trials globally.
ViVOtech’s NFC mobile payments, promotions, Over-The-Air (OTA)
provisioning infrastructure software, transaction management software,
NFC smart posters and contactless terminals are part of the company’s
portfolio of solutions that complement and complete mobile ecommerce
networks and its ecosystem.
About
ViVOtech
ViVOtech (www.vivotech.com) is the market leader in near field communication
(NFC) mobile payments, promotions and Over-the-Air (OTA) provisioning
infrastructure software, transaction management software, NFC smart
posters, and contactless terminals. These innovative solutions allow
millions of consumers to make contactless payments with radio frequency-enabled
credit/debit cards, fobs and NFC mobile phones. ViVOtech's products
are used by the most prominent retailers all over the globe and
today the company has shipped over 450,000 contactless terminals
to more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2008, ViVOtech has been
named #1 in ABI Research’s Contactless & NFC Reader Ranking
Report. ViVOtech was also recognized as Top Contactless Payment
Technology Vendor in Aberdeen Group’s “Retail Contactless
Payment Report.” ViVOtech has received strategic investments
from First Data Corporation, a leading provider of electronic and
payment solutions for businesses worldwide, Citi, the leading global
financial services company, NCR Corporation, a leading global technology
company helping businesses build stronger relationship with their
customers and Motorola, known globally for innovation and leadership
in wireless and broadband communications.
About
NETS
NETS
celebrates its 23rd Anniversary in 2008. The company was founded
in 1985 to operate and manage an on-line debit payment service.
It has since pioneered Singapore’s move to cashless society
and grown from a single to a multi–service organisation, providing
a comprehensive range of electronic payment services.
Based in Singapore, NETS is expanding internationally
with a vision to be the preferred world-class solutions provider
for payment and processing services, accepting multi-media and multi-channel
transactions on behalf of companies, institutions and individuals
around the world. NETS products and services are currently marketed
throughout Asia, including China, Hong Kong and South East Asia.
NETS
provides merchants, banks and consumers with fast and convenient
electronic payment services for carrying out everyday transactions.
With a willingness to push new technology frontiers, NETS is continuously
developing new payment solutions to create an integrated multimedia
platform that allows payments to be made seamlessly across mobile,
wireless and physical arenas. With a growing range of payment services,
NETS is poised to become the integrated payment gateway for Asia.
Find
more information on NETS and its payment services at http://www.nets.com.sg.
About
SingTel
SingTel
is Asia's leading communications group providing a portfolio of
services including voice and data services over fixed, wireless
and Internet platforms. It has a network of 37 offices in 19 countries
and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States.
Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia’s largest
multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 185 million mobile
customers in eight markets. More information can be found at http://www.singtel.com
Editorial Contact:
Kristin Miller
SS|PR representing ViVOtech, Inc.
kmiller@sspr.com
(719) 634-8292
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