Turkey's Turkcell has announced the commercial launch of Mobile Payment in Turkey, making Turkcell among the first European mobile operators to make mobile payment services commercially available.
Turkcell will initiate Mobile Payment in cooperation with Yapi Kredi Bank, one of Turkey's leading banks, and shopping points such as selected fast food chains, mobile phone dealers, florists and internet sites. It also plans to expand the mobile payment service to additional banks and shopping points in the near future.
Turkcell subscribers who own a valid Yapi Kredi Bank credit card will be able to make secure payments via their mobile phones at selected shopping points. To make mobile payments, Turkcell subscribers will send a string of encrypted code via USSD, including the code of the bank, the point of sale and the product to make a payment. Subscribers will receive a secure confirmation code, which will be entered into the system of the merchant to complete the payment. The payment will be charged to the predefined credit card.
The launch of Mobile Payment marks a milestone in Turkcell's commitment to serve its customers and to promote mobile services that advance phone use beyond voice communications. Turkcell will initially be the carrier for mobile payments and will only charge for the SMS used for the payment. Turkcell plans to create new business models for Mobile Payment as the market becomes familiar with the mobile payment and there is increased demand.
Data revenues, including SMS, comprise approximately 10% of Turkcell revenues as of the end of 2002.
Commenting on this new development for Turkcell and its subscribers, Tulin Karabuk, Head of Marketing and Sales of Turkcell, said, "The launch of mobile payment services is an important step for Turkcell. We have always been committed to advancing mobile technology by developing services that highlight the wide ranging benefits of mobility for our customers. This initiative is proof that in Europe, Turkcell is at the forefront of introducing new solutions our customers want and that help make Turkey an important market for advanced mobile services."
Posted to the site on 25th April 2003
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/8756.php