Mobile phone service provider Safaricom has introduced an automated airtime credit top-up service to be available for Visa and MasterCard holders.
The innovative new service, which has been developed in partnership with PAYM8, a leading global mobile commerce solutions company, will conveniently enable Safaricom subscribers to top-up their accounts using either their credit or debit cards.
Speaking at the launch of the service, Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph described the service as the first of its kind in the region geared at enhancing mobile banking capacities in Kenya by allowing Safaricom subscribers to conveniently transact their basic banking business through their mobile phones.
"Safaricom is proud to be setting the pace on the mobile commerce front by empowering Kenyans to conveniently top up their credit and transact their banking business via their mobile phones," Joseph said.
And added: "we shall continue to add value through our range of demand driven world class products and services to ensure that our 2.9 million subscribers reap maximum benefits from their connection with us."
The new service will exclusively enable Safaricom subscribers to make their airtime purchases. Plans, he said, are under way to expand the Safaricom PAYM8 service capability to allow Safaricom postpaid and prepaid subscribers to perform card account balance enquiries and settle their utility (power and water) bills directly from their handsets. The new service will ultimately support mobile-to-mobile money transfers
Safaricom worked closely with Visa International, KCB, The Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Imperial, Fidelity, Stanbic, the Southern Credit Banking Corporation and the Commercial Bank of Africa among other local Visa affiliated banks to ensure that all transactions on the service are conveniently and securely settled from the Safaricom subscribers` Visa Credit or Visa Electron debit cards.
Speaking at the same function, PAYM8 CEO, Andrew Springate expressed his firm`s delight at successfully meeting Safaricom`s vision.
"We are proud to be selected by a mobile operator as progressive as Safaricom to deliver on its vision," Springate said.
Visa International sub-Saharan Africa General Manager, Rob Clark, who was also present, described Kenya as one of his firm`s key markets.
"Visa International is committed to supporting innovative ways to drive electronic payments as a replacement for cash for the benefit of all parties, in particular Visa cardholders."
To sign up for the new Safaricom PAYM8 service, Safaricom subscribers will only need to have a Visa Credit or Visa Electron debit card from any VISA accredited bank in Kenya, or a local QuickServe debit card.
Customers may register at any branch of the participating banks and Safaricom care centres countrywide. They will then need to send an SMS from their Safaricom phone to the short code "150" to complete the registration procedure.
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