Comments on: Visa to Launch a Global Mobile Phone Payment System

By: Gerald Shuma

Gerald Shuma — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:08:56 +0000

Visa has long realized the importance of the mobile channel to the future of payments and as a medium to deliver to consumers

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By: Vinny Lingham’s Blog » Blog Archive » links for 2007-01-11

Vinny Lingham’s Blog » Blog Archive » links for 2007-01-11 — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:21:36 +0000

[...] Visa to Launch a Global Mobile Phone Payment System Only took them like 15 years after cellphones came out… [...]

By: HASH

HASH — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:23:01 +0000

I agree with Ssembonge in that if this is just an extension of credit cards to the normal people who can afford to get credit cards, that though it will be successful, it’s value in third world countries is greatly diminished.

I’d like to see such a system built that would allow micro-banking to happen. Though the phone companies can do some things in the geographic location that they’re in, it will really take someone who has, or can create, a global presence to really make this a reality. So, Safaricom will probably create a great system for Kenya and a few other countries in Africa. However, I think the ability to do cross-border commerce won’t be able to happen at its fullest.

Again, I love the mobile phone as the platform for this. It’ll be the execution that makes or breaks it (as always).

By: Josiah

Josiah — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 11:13:39 +0000

I’ve also blogged on the same –

Safaricom (in Kenya) are supposed to be launching a mobile payment solution sometimes this year – whiteafrican – blogged about it.

I think it’s suited for developing countries where credit card use is at a minimum

By: JKE

JKE — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:14:08 +0000

But even though its PR character, it would be nice to have a global mobile payment system, so the idea makes sense to me.

By: Ssembonge

Ssembonge — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:58:17 +0000

This type of commerce is suitable for marginilized people or areas of the world. We already have contactless cards or key-fobs and I don’t see people in the near future trading their plastic cards for a sim card. People with spending power have several plastic cards. So how will one cell-phone replace several accounts.
At the risk of being seen as an idiot in 20 years to come, I will be brave and say that the mobile phone usefulness is limited to communication and entertainment.
This is PR news. VISA is trying hard to be in the news. That’s it.