The Argentine phones become digital wallets

In a joint agreement between MasterCard and Telefónica, the operator Movistar users will have access to Wanda, a mobile wallet phones available in both basic and smartphones. The objective of this platform will provide a financial service to those without the ability to access the banking system.

"This way, we provide people the ability to make payments or money transfers without the need for cash or a bank account," said Ramiro Gomez D'hers, general manager of Wanda Argentina. The mobile payment platform resembles a prepaid account, and now operates from any phone in La Plata, Mar del Plata, Rosario, Blue, Tandil and Balcarce, and that in the short term plans to extend its coverage in Buenos Aires and Cordoba .

No subscription charge or maintenance, Wanda basa income in transfer fees to users of the platform and in the percentage of each transaction carried out by a trader.

The ecosystem that provides the mobile wallet system allows consumers to operate with Wanda as a wallet, and vendors as a virtual box. "This is just one of the interesting options of the service, allowing you to add security to taxi drivers to avoid handling cash," says Gomez D'hers.

At this point, the platform aims to facilitate transactions where there are problems with the change at the time of payment, such as taxis, limos, kiosks and shipping services meals on wheels, segments where Wanda is in stage alliances and agreements.

Menu options are accessed from anywhere Wanda model mobile phone by dialing * 116 # . Its operation does not require installing additional software, and after making the high administrative account by telephone or any authorized agents or Movistar Wanda, you will receive a password that allows you to make deposits, withdrawals and transfers of money, payments in shops and top up the balance of the cell.

This type of experience and had its antecedents in different markets in Africa and Southeast Asia, where a high percentage of the population without access to traditional banking services, said the executive. "Locally, we hope to reach 18 million users Movistar, and over 100 million across Latin America, where Wanda extended its coverage to the twelve countries of the region," said Gomez D'hers.

The race for mobile money

With the support of MasterCard and Telefonica, Wanda is perhaps one of the platforms with greater range of service, given its availability in all models of phones without having to install an application, but not the only proposal available in the segment phone. DineroMail , for example, offers a payment platform from smartphones, and extended his support for merchants and end users with an alliance with Intel to improve security and payment experience.

"The online operations are becoming more frequent. In fact, 70% of those making a purchase online seeking information about products before purchase and 25% of them end up making a purchase through the Web, with an average purchase 858 pesos according to the data for 2011, "said Mariela Bravo, Business Segment Manager for Government and Intel Southern Cone, where the agreement was reported.

A few years ago, also Orange Card introduced in the interior Mo Orange service , which lets you assign an amount of money to a cell phone number and make payments using text messages validating.

Meanwhile Wallet service, which allows the payment card approach, was recently acquired by Visa form, which is expected relaunch in the coming months to position it as the alternative to make small payments on their network of shops mated to a savings, credit card or from a virtual prepaid account. Visa already has an agreement with Vodafone globally to provide mobile payments.

In the rest of the world and there are several initiatives in place that allow you to use the phone as a digital wallet.

Source in Spanish.