Get new customers with the mobile phone

mPayment is a tool that makes it possible for companies to reach new customers and create additional sales with existing customers. Sales Director in Unwire, Mikkel Børve, gives some practical advice to companies that are considering mPayment. For example, he explains how companies can ensure that all their customers can use the solution – regardless of which mobile phone they use or which service provider they are contracted to.

“Many companies see opportunities in mPayment because mobile payment solutions create advantages for the companies and the customers. The customers don’t have to pay with cash or a Dankort and this provides the companies with the opportunity to attract new customers and create additional sales with the existing customers. In addition, mPayment gives the companies the opportunity of removing the charges that are connected to the handling of cash,” says Unwire Sales Director Mikkel Børve.

Mikkel explains that mPayment has been received with great interest at many companies in the Nordic region and that Unwire is often met with questions about what is required to launch an mPayment solution.

“We have already assisted several companies in the Nordic region with setting up the mPayment solution. Typically, the companies come to us because they would like to have the technical solution developed. But also because they want to ensure that all their customers can use the solution, regardless of whether they have an iPhone or a Nokia and regardless of whether they use, for example, Telia or Telenor as telephone company,” says Mikkel Børve.

All telephone companies must join in
An mPayment solution must be supported by all the telephone companies if all the customers are to be able to use the solution. Therefore, it is necessary to enter into an agreement with each individual service provider and Unwire often performs this role:

“We have had close cooperation with the telephone companies for many years and we have good contact to them. Therefore, we can enter into an agreement with all telephone companies on behalf of the customer. In so doing, companies’ don’t have to relate to this aspect and the solution can be launched faster. Actually, it doesn’t need to take more than two weeks to establish an mPayment solution,” says Mikkel Børve.

For some companies however, there will also be the need to prepare some applications for their vending machines before the solution can be used. For example, if a drinks vending machine is to be able to sell cola over an SMS payment (text message) the cola vending machine must first be configured. This can require slightly more time than just the usual 14 days.

Information to customers
The companies are responsible for configuring their own equipment such as vending machines. Unwire is responsible for the technical set-up of the mPayment solution itself. And Unwire also advises the companies about how they can comply with the legislation on the area:

“The majority of countries have laws requiring that customers must be informed about the terms of purchase when they carry out a purchase over the mobile phone. We know the legal frameworks in all the countries in which we operate and therefore we can advise the customers about which requirements they must be aware of and comply with,” says Mikkel Børve.