During this pilot stage, Tap 'n Pay will work on Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 devices.
Alpha Bank and Vodafone, in collaboration with Visa Europe and First Data, bring Alpha Bank and Vodafone to Alpha Bank's first application for in-smart smartphone payments. The application is called "Tap 'n Pay" and takes advantage of the fact that modern phones are equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) chips. Combined with the integration of the Alpha Bank Enter Visa debit card, the phone essentially turns into a 'mobile wallet'. Thus, its owner can carry out financial transactions in stores that have the special terminals, by debiting the bank account linked to the card.
The application was officially presented yesterday by the four companies, which announced that its pilot mode it starts immediately, enabling selected users to test it in practice and experience its benefits. During this pilot stage, the Tap 'n Pay will work on Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 and Samsung Galaxy S3 devices.
These users will be provided with a special SIM card from Vodafone, where the debit card will be stored. By activating the app, every time they are in a store that has contactless readers, all they need is to get their cellphone at a distance of 5 centimeters from the reader. Then, in fractions of a second, the transaction will be ready to be completed.
For payments over 25 Euros, the mobile owner must then validate them by typing the passcode on the phone. As far as smaller payments are concerned, users will be able to choose whether or not they need to enter the Passcode each time.
During the presentation, Mr. Dionysis Grigoratos, director of Corporate Customers at Vodafone Greece, referred to the speed, security and convenience offered by Tap 'n Pay, thus expanding the role that smartphones already play in the everyday life of modern people.
Leonidas Kasoumis, Alpha Bank's Chief Consumer Authorizing Officer and President of Visa Hellas, added that the launch of the application sets the foundation for creating an "ecosystem" on which to base the new way of payment using mobile phone.
For his part, Mr. Nikos Kampanopoulos, general manager for Greece, Bulgaria & Cyprus of Visa Europe, noted that, through Tap 'n Pay, Greece enters the European map of countries where this particular Visa service is already available . Finally, Mr. Espen Tranoi, CEO of First Data Greece, stated that the application responds to consumers' desire for a seamless shopping experience, regardless of whether they shop in a store or online.
Source: kathimerini.gr
