Ingenico (Euronext: FR0000125346 - ING), world leader in payment solutions, today announces that retailers, artisans, and liberal professions will soon be able to use their smartphone to receive card payments in Belgium.
For this purpose BNP Paribas Fortis will offer the combination of a mobile telephone with a dedicated application and a secured pocket format card reader with Bluetooth connection. The retailer enters the amount to be paid via the smartphone application and then the customer uses the card reader keyboard to enter his/her code in total security. Progressive implementation is forecast for 2013.
Within the scope of this project, BNP Paribas Fortis finalised a partnership with Ingenico which will provide a fully operated solution from the secured card reader to the processing of the transaction. To implement its smartphone payment solution, BNP Paribas Fortis will also rely on the capacities of easycash Belgium and ROAM, Ingenico subsidiaries.
Rapid diffusion by Smartphones opens new prospects for the development of innovative payment methods. Many applications have already been rolled out by BNP Paribas Fortis to enable customers to consult their accounts and carry out banking operations on their Smartphone. With this new offer they can make collections while on the move. In addition, this application will enable its users to follow their payments more closely and progressively, to have new services. This offer confirms the central role of the Smartphone in the relationship between BNP Paribas Fortis and its customers, with an innovative and an increasingly elaborate service offer.
Retailers can obtain the card reader directly from BNP Paribas Fortis. The solution is compatible with all bank cards currently used in Belgium.
Ingenico is happy to be involved with the particularly innovative project by BNP Paribas Fortis to launch a secured mobile payment offer that meets the new expectations of retailers and their customers", stated Pierre-Antoine Vacheron, Executive Vice President Ingenico SEPA/Europe.
Peter Vandekerckhove, Head of Retail & Private Banking, added: "Through this innovative product, BNP Paribas Fortis would like to offer retailers and liberal professions a mobile payment solution which is easily accessible and which enables secured payment by their customers."