Up to now, the only way you could pay for those online purchases you made was via a credit card.
Internet Solutions (IS), a leading converged communications service provider, together with FNB, have launched a service where hotspot access time payments can be made via a cellphone.
Cell Pay Point is the new online payment solution from FNB that allows FNB customers to pay an online merchant using their cellphone. What this means is that customers registered for cellphone banking from FNB can use Cell Pay Point to purchase goods online directly from any of their transactional accounts. You can use Cell Pay Point on any of the registered merchant's Web sites.
Justin Spratt, Manager FMC and Hotspots for IS, says Cell Pay Point is easy to use and the purchase of Hotspot access time is now on offer to more than 700 000 FNB customers.
"Online purchasing has to date been limited to people with credit cards, excluding a wide base of other bank customers," says Len Pienaar, CEO of First National Bank's (FNB's) Mobile and Transact Solutions division. "FNB's Cell Pay Point brings all FNB bank account customers into the digital economy, as well as addressing some of the security concerns in the marketplace."
However, consumers will have to wait for broad access, as the Cell Pay Point solution requires vendors to sign up with the bank before the service is available on its Web site.
When Cell Pay Point, FNB's online payment solution, is chosen as the payment mechanism, the vendor displays a dial string which the customer dials. The customer is authenticated via their mobile PIN, and the purchase is confirmed via the handset without disclosing any banking or personal details. The payment is processed real-time with both customer and vendor receiving instant notification. The customer is then provided with the purchased goods, in this case a username and password, to access the IS WiFi Hotspot network. The IS WiFi Hotspot network is available at over 600 locations countrywide.
"Cellular is an important channel for FNB as it is pretty much pervasive throughout SA. We have been pleasantly surprised by the adoption of cellular banking by our entry-level customers too. We intend to grow on this success through broadening access and continuing to focus on innovation as a key performance indicator," concludes Pienaar.
Benefits to merchants:
* Fast and simple integration
* Easy to use payment process for the merchant's customers
* Increased sales opportunity - accepts debit/credit cards
* Real-time notification of payments
* Guaranteed payments
* Payments are cleared into the merchant's bank account immediately (note: delay for non-FNB bank merchants)
* The merchant is able to make payment status enquiry
* Secure connections / interfaces
* Reconciliation - reports are e-mailed daily/monthly
* The merchant's store is mentioned on FNB's list of merchants
* Reduced merchant risk and liability as no customer information is given online
* Competitive merchant rates
Customer fees
Currently customers aren't charged bank fees for goods purchased using Cell Pay Point, FNB's innovative payment solution.
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Internet Solutions (IS) is Africa's leading New Age Telco, offering end-to-end converged communication solutions to our clients. The people at IS are passionate about constantly innovating and delivering solutions and services that are relevant and critical to their customers. These services are built on a world-class, secure, resilient infrastructure, delivered according to global best practices and effected in partnership with the world's leading technology vendors. It is through these services and solutions that IS creates a competitive edge for their customers communication needs, and promote sustainable business growth.
The business was founded in 1992 on the principle of developing a robust infrastructure in order for corporates and other organisations to communicate. Since then, IS has established itself as a leader in this space, attracting over 80% of South Africa's top businesses as clients. From listed companies to non-governmental organisations, local and national government and smaller companies, IS is enabling and evolving communications to meet the business needs of thousands of customers.
The company enjoys partnerships with major global players such as Cisco and Microsoft and holds Microsoft Gold Certification in the Hosting specialisation for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration (Hosted Exchange and SharePoint) and Managed Hosting Solutions - the first South African company to achieve this accreditation and was the first company outside of the US to be certified as a Cisco Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP).
Today the company enjoys a leadership position as it delivers services including: hosting, access, security solutions, virtual private network (VPN), mobile solutions, VOIS, African solutions, broadband, and application services (ASP). Recent growth in the African economy has resulted in IS spreading its services across all parts of the continent as clients demand reliable and robust networking connectivity in the African market.
For more, visit us on www.is.co.za.
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