The major telecoms companies in the Phillipines have gotten involved in the SMS tax story. Roaming experts Roamware have bought their way into mobile banking. In more Phillipines related news, MetroBank has made provisions for international cash transactions. And NFC banking has an interesting development in the form of a microSD card which is an entire wireless payment system that can be switched from phone to phone.
Phillipines SMS tax update
Yesterday we carried the story on how mobile users in the Phillippines are reacting angrily to a suggested Government tax on SMS. The total amount charged per text would only amount to a fraction of a cent, but so many texts are sent per day that the country is up in arms. Today, the three largest telecoms companies in the country have declared that they are opposed to the new tax on behalf of their low-income subscribers.
Global roaming giant Roamware buys its way into mobile banking
When Roamware says it’s going to launch a mobile finances service, it’s worth listening. Why? Because Roamware has a global presence in mobile voice and data roaming that includes deals with over 380 operators around the world. It is getting into mobile finances through the acquisition of Macalla, an m-commerce and mobile banking company. Macalla already had deployments with banks and operators around the world, and Roamware will be re-directing those assets. It hopes to combine their services to grab market share in “unbanked communities” – poorer areas where residents don’t have access to usual banking services. Macalla can enable users to buy minutes, transfer credit, send money internationally and pay bills.
Filipinos working abroad can now send money home over their phone
Philippines bank Metrobank has entered into a deal with mobile payments network Luup for cross-border mobile transactions. The service will allow Filipinos working in other countries to send money home through Luup. Relatives at home can then collect the money either from a Metrobank branch or from an ATM. This is a first step for Luup, which is planning on setting up other international services of the same kind with other banks
NFC enabled SD cards being developed for mobile finance
Mobile encryption company Rfinity is launching an interesting product – it’s a microSD card modified to be an entire mobile payment system.
The encryption system and the NFC interface are both embedded on the microSD – so the device can be used in the majority of mobile devices today. The additional complexity allowed by the microSD could allow the Rfinity card to open and complete cash transactions between two mobiles, with a much greater degree of security than usual NFC chips.
More credit card-less mobile payments from PaymentPin
The “operator bill” style of mobile payment is becoming more and more common. Joining sevices like Zong and Boku, new company PaymentPin allows users to pay for goods via mobile by attaching the cost to their monthly mobile bill. PaymentPin already has social and gaming networks signed on to the service
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