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Dialog and NDB Bank introduce mChek for Mobile Payments in Sri Lanka
Bangalore, August 16, 2007
World’s first commercially launched card present mobile payment platform. Now from the convenience of any mobile phone make utility bill payment, pre-paid top-up, over-the-counter and remote payment.
mChek (www.mchek.com), an ISO 27001 company, today announced that its patent-pending, on-demand mobile payments solution, mChek/Payments, has been commercially introduced in Sri Lanka by Dialog Telekom, the leading telecom operator, in partnership with NDB Bank, one of the largest private sector commercial banks in Sri Lanka. This is the first commercial launch of a Card Present mobile payment platform in the world.
The mChek/Payments platform is immediately available to all customers of Dialog and NDB Bank and enables secure payments ranging from utility bills/pre-paid top-ups, over-the-counter and remote commerce, and mobile banking. Merchants, who get the mChek-enabled SIM card, can turn their mobile phones into Point of Sale Terminals and Utility bill payment kiosks. Additional exciting services are being introduced in coming months.
“Payment through mobile phones is a major new frontier for the Sri Lankan consumer,” said Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Executive of Dialog Telekom. “Dialog is strongly committed to deploying wireless technologies towards empowering Sri Lankan citizens. Mobile Payments facilitated via mChek’s SIM card resident solution, will add a new dimension to this philosophy of inclusive technology applications – making banking and electronic payment services available and immediately accessible to millions of people.”
“NDB Bank is committed to bringing secure banking and payments to merchants and consumers across all segments – urban or rural, banked or un-banked, and the mobile phone allows us to do this in a cost effective manner.” said Nihal Welikala, CEO of NDB Bank. “mChek/Payments has been developed to the exacting standards of the banking industry and helps banks take the next step from plastic to mobile in a seamless manner, consistent with our existing systems, business processes and business model.”
Sri Lanka has a large cash-based market, although credit and debit card usage has slowly been rising. But as is the case in most emerging economies, there has been a dramatic uptake of the mobile phone, both in urban as well as rural markets, presenting an opportunity for electronic payments. However a major challenge has been in developing customer-friendly solutions utilizing available mobile technology that comply with existing banking industry practices, government regulations and specifications.
“Sri Lanka is a market known for innovation and we are excited to introduce mChek in this market”, said Sanjay Swamy, CEO of mChek. “Consumers in Sri Lanka can leap-frog the age of plastic cards and move directly into the mobile payments generation, and we are delighted to work with Dialog and NDB Bank in this effort and enable this service to a base of more than 3.5Million users.”
About mChek
mChek, an ISO 27001 company, is headquartered in the Cayman Islands, with an operating company in India. The company is funded by Draper Fisher Jurvetson (www.dfj.com) a leading venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. The company has developed several patent-pending applications in the areas of security and banking. mChek’s services have been developed with several years of technology and market research and collaboration with VISA International, and brings the eco-system of telecom operators, banks, merchants and consumers together in a cohesive and win-win manner.
For more information, visit http://www.mchek.com or email [email protected].
About Dialog Telekom
Dialog Telekom, an ISO 9001 certified company, is a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia. Dialog operates 2.5G and 3G Mobile Communications networks supporting the very latest in multimedia and mobile Internet services. The Company has the distinction of being the first 3G operator in South Asia to commence commercial operations. Dialog Telekom, the largest and fastest growing cellular service in Sri Lanka, serves a subscriber base in excess of 3.5 Million Sri Lankans.
For more information, visit www.dialog.lk
About NDB Bank
Since 1979 NDB Bank has been one of the largest single sources of medium and long term finance for business in Sri Lanka. In 2001, with the acquisition of ABN Amro Bank Colombo operations the NDB Bank entered the commercial banking arena.
NDB Bank is the fifth largest private sector commercial bank in the country, with a strong capital base, a fast growing loan and deposit book, with a diverse and rapidly expanding distribution channels. It is rated AA (Sri Lanka), by Fitch Ratings Agency.
NDB Bank has the strength and the diversity of resources to offer its customers a very wide-ranging portfolio of financial solutions including consumer banking, treasury, cash management services, trade finance operations and advisory, funding for structured and corporate finance deals, correspondent banking together with SME financing and project financing.
In addition, as part of the NDB Group, customers have access to the products and services of the Group, including insurance from Eagle insurance Company, Stock-broking from NDBS stock-brokers, and Investment Banking from NDB Investment Bank, among others.
For more information, visit http://www.mchek.com or write to [email protected] or call +91-80-41795900.
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