Author: Denny

The mobile payments provider has announced its intentions to include near field communication.

Cellum, a mobile wallet provider from Europe, has announced that NFC technology is on its way to its services. Currently, its mobile payments services are based on Host Card Emulation technology. However, NFC is becoming increasingly commonplace in this market and a company press release revealed they’re joining in.

The company has successfully applied near field communication technology to services in the past.

According to Zoltán Ács, the Cellum director of research and development, “Until recently, Cellum focused on remote payments, though the company is no stranger to NFC, as it has had a number of successful implementations based on the technology in the past.” That said, Ács pointed out that when they had previously used NFC technology, the market hadn’t been “ready for it.”

Cellum believes the market has since evolved and is ready to adopt NFC technology based solutions.

He explained that by implementing NFC based mobile wallets, it will help to better meet a rising demand for secure, rapid and easy to use payment solutions. Cellum has become an official MasterCard Digital Vendor Partner through the Hungarian support of the launch of MasterCard MasterPass.

Cellum provides banks and telcos with mobile wallet services that are MasterPass enabled. They also provider merchants with integration services that use its platform which is compliant with PCI DDS.

As MasterCard gets itself ready for its upcoming launch of contactless HCE based payments through its MasterPass, Cellum will offer its own partners the same functionality. Cellum COO, Ábel Garamhegyi, explained that the company has been using a white label model that included mobile wallet tech for several years. Garamhegyi went on to state that they have used it to established solid partnerships in Europe right through a good portion of the Asian market. He added that it gives the company pride to be “able to serve the diverse needs of our various clients and markets.”

The introduction of NFC technology will only expand on this capability as they broaden their reach as an official Digital Vendor Partner of MasterCard. This will bring together the one-touch PayPass experience with the online MasterPass convenience, all in a single branded app, said Garamhegyi.

Heineken is rewarding New Zealand consumers for exploring their city.

The Dutch brewing company, famous for its Heineken pale lager beer, is launching its Heineken LIVE app in New Zealand. The innovative app is equipped with cutting-edge iBeacon technology, which combines Bluetooth and GPS tech. It encourages users to go out and explore their city. When they head to participating Heineken venues they can get rewards.

Heineken is giving away $500,000 in prizes over the next six months.

The app primarily functions as a rewards system. Smartphone users who download the app and head to participating Heineken venues will receive two different types of points: Venue Points and Heineken Status Points. The venue points are limited to each venue. The Status Points elevate a user’s status and offers them an array of rewards. These may include big ticket surprise experiences, VIP event tickets, exclusive access to events, food and beverage offers as well as other opportunities.

Over the next six months, the beer giant is giving away $500,000 in prizes. Users of the app can head to any of the more than 120 venues fitted with iBeacon technology for their chance to receive notifications and rewards from Heineken.

The iBeacon technology is a world first for the beer brand.

The company created the Heineken LIVE app in an effort to improve their connection with consumers between the ages of 18 and 30. This demographic is rarely without their mobile phones. According to Heineken New Zealand marketing manager Taylor Green, the technology is the next generation of loyalty programs.

Green also believes that the LIVE app celebrates what makes cities around New Zealand great. “Our cities are melting pots of culture, showcasing world-class food and drink, technology and exciting events” he said. Green added that “Heineken LIVE uses innovative technology to encourage people to discover the best parts of their cities as well as see old favourites in a whole new light, rather than drinking more.”

Green said that he’s proud that Heineken LIVE was developed locally and will launch in New Zealand first. He also believes there is huge potential for the company’s iBeacon technology app to be successful around the globe.