Polkomtel launches system to replace cash and cards

For the first several months the service, called mPay, will be available only to Plus, Sami Swoi and Simplus users, but later will be adopted by other mobile network operators. At the beginning the service will only cover small payments (so-called micropayments). "It may be used by those who do not have a debit card, such as young people who will be able to ask their parents to credit the account of their phone in order to buy themselves e.g. some beverage," said Polkomtel's president Adam Glapiński. The transactions may be made both in traditional points of sale and via the Internet. "This year we want to build a network of 600-650 points which will accept the service. We expect to have one million users by the end of 2008," stated Dariusz Boduch, the deputy director of the Polkomtel's product and services development department. The costs of the transaction will include the payment for the connection and the commission for the seller. The solution used is Polish and has been patented in 11 countries. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B6; Puls Biznesu, p. 13; Parkiet, p. 4) E.B.