Mobile Payments War Heats up as new Entrant mPowa Offers Europe-wide Solution

LONDON, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

mPowa now live for Android - iZettle unable to process Visa payments in several European countries

Mobile point of sale company mPowa announced today that its mobile payments service covers Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Apple iPhones and iPads. Customers with mPowa's card reader may simply go to the Android Google 'Play Store' and download the mPowa mobile payment app to their phones, for free, and then make and accept card payments - using any major credit or debit card - on the go anywhere.

This news comes as iZettle has announced that from 1st August it cannot process any payments using Visa in Denmark,Finland or Norway. iZettle's device apparently does not meet Visa Europe's standard acceptance requirements. Visa is a highly popular card across many European countries, so this is a major restriction.

Dan Wagner, CEO and founder of mPowa, said: "With mPowa we are allowing businesses everywhere, from the smallest to the largest, to take payments wherever business is transacted.

"mPowa is the first to offer such an innovative and exciting mobile payment solution for Android.  The device accepts all major credit and debit cards including Visa, MasterCard and American Express."

"The recent extension to Android shows that mPowa is a truly universal way of making and accepting mobile payments, unlimited by geography, card issuer, operating system, device, currency or method of verification."

Sales of Android phones are increasing globally. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reported in July that for the first time Android has taken at least half of smartphone sales in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, US and Australia.^[1]

mPowa's service includes a free mobile app and reader which turn any mobile phone into a mobile point of sale device. The reader connects to a smartphone or mobile device either by plugging into its headphone socket or via Bluetooth.

mPowa's reader can either swipe a card's magnetic strip or use Chip and PIN technology. Increasing numbers of credit card companies worldwide are introducing cards bearing a chip, so this is very important, both locally and internationally where in many markets it is a requirement for merchants.

For commentary or interviews contact Rani Gill [Rani@flamepr.com /  +44-203-357-9746] or Vivienne [Vivienne@flamepr.com/ +44-203-357-9747] at Flame PR on  +44-7590534173. Alternatively 

emailmpowa@flamepr.com

http://www.mpowa.com

[1] http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Android-maintains-Euro-dominance

SOURCE mPowa

Dan Wagner

CEO

mPowa 

The Met Building, 9th Floor,

22 Percy Street,

London W1T 2BU

Mobile Payments War Heats up as new Entrant mPowa Offers Europe-wide Solution

La guerre des paiements mobiles fait rage alors que la nouvelle venue mPowa propose une solution à l'échelle de l'Europe

LONDRES, July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

mPowa désormais disponible pour Android - iZettle n'est plus en mesure de traiter les paiements par Visa dans plusieurs pays d'Europe

mPowa, société se spécialisant dans les points de vente mobiles, a annoncé aujourd'hui que son service de paiements mobiles couvre désormais les smartphones et tablettes Android, ainsi que les iPhone et iPad d'Apple. Les clients possédant un lecteur de cartes mPowa pourront dorénavant simplement accéder au Google Play Store d'Android et télécharger l'application de paiement mobile mPowa depuis leur téléphone gratuitement, puis émettre et accepter des paiements par carte - toute carte de crédit ou de débit majeure - pendant leurs déplacements, où qu'ils soient.

Cette nouvelle arrive alors que la société iZettle a annoncé qu'à compter du 1^er août, elle ne pourrait plus traiter aucun paiement par Visa au Danemark en Finlande ou en Norvège. En effet, le dispositif d'iZettle ne répond apparemment pas aux exigences d'acceptation standard de Visa Europe. Visa étant une marque de carte très populaire à travers de nombreux pays européens, il s'agit donc d'une restriction majeure.

Dan Wagner, PDG et fondateur de mPowa, a déclaré : « Avec mPowa, nous permettons aux entreprises du monde entier, quelle que soit leur taille, d'accepter des paiements pour chaque transaction.

mPowa est la première société à proposer une solution de paiement mobile aussi innovante et palpitante pour Android. L'appareil accepte toutes les cartes de crédit et de débit majeures, dont Visa, MasterCard et American Express.

Cette récente extension pour inclure Android démontre que mPowa est une façon réellement universelle d'émettre et d'accepter des paiements mobiles, sans limite géographique, et indépendamment de l'émetteur de la carte, du système d'exploitation, de l'appareil, de la devise ou de la méthode de vérification. »

Les ventes de téléphones Android augmentent mondialement. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech a indiqué en juillet que, pour la première fois, Android représente plus de la moitié des ventes de smartphones en Grande-Bretagne, en Allemagne, enFrance, en Italie, en Espagne, aux États-Unis et en Australie^[1].

Le service de mPowa inclut une application mobile et un lecteur gratuits transformant n'importe quel téléphone portable en dispositif de point de vente mobile. Ce lecteur se connecte à un smartphone ou à un appareil mobile soit en le branchant dans un port casque, soit par Bluetooth.

Le lecteur de mPowa peut soit lire la bande magnétique d'une carte, soit utiliser la technologie de carte à puce à code confidentiel. De plus en plus de sociétés de cartes de crédit à l'échelle mondiale lancent des cartes à puce. C'est donc d'autant plus important, que ce soit au niveau local ou international, car les commerçants de nombreux marchés exigent d'être payés par carte à puce.

Pour tout commentaire ou toute demande d'entretien, veuillez contacter Rani Gill [Rani@flamepr.com /  +44-203-357-9746] ou Vivienne [Vivienne@flamepr.com/ +44-203-357-9747] de Flame PR au  +44-7590534173. Vous pouvez également envoyer un e-mail à l'adresse mpowa@flamepr.com

http://www.mpowa.com

[1] http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Android-maintains-Euro-dominance

SOURCE mPowa

Dan Wagner

CEO

mPowa 

The Met Building, 9th Floor,

22 Percy Street,

London W1T 2BU

La guerre des paiements mobiles fait rage alors que la nouvelle venue mPowa propose une solution à l'échelle de l'Europe

Neueinsteiger mPowa stellt europaweite Lösung vor und heizt damit den Kampf um den Markt für Mobilzahlungen weiter an

LONDON, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

mPowa jetzt live für Android - iZettle kann in etlichen europäischen Ländern keine Visa-Zahlungen verarbeiten

Das Mobilzahlungsunternehmen für mPowa gab heute bekannt, dass seine mobilen Zahlungsdienste jetzt außer für Apples iPhones und iPads auch für Android-Smartphones und -Tablets zur Verfügung stehen. Kunden mit mPowas Kartenlesegerät können einfach zum Google Play Store für Android gehen und sich mPowas Mobilzahlungs-App kostenfrei auf ihr Telefon herunterladen. Dies ermöglicht die Ausführung und Annahme von ortsunabhängigen Kartenzahlungen - mit allen großen Kredit- oder Geldkarten.

Diese Nachricht geht zeitlich einher mit iZettles Ankündigung, vom 1. August an in Dänemark, Finnland und Norwegen keine Zahlungen mit Visa mehr ausführen zu können. Anscheinend entspricht iZettles Gerät nicht Visas üblichen Anforderungen für Europa. Da Visa in vielen europäischen Ländern eine überaus beliebte Karte ist, stellt dies eine maßgebliche Einschränkung dar.

Dan Wagner, Geschäftsführer und Gründer von mPowa, sagte: "Mit mPowa ermöglichen wir die Geschäftsabwicklung  an allen erdenklichen Orten - wo auch immer sich eine Transaktion durchführen lässt, von der kleinsten bis hin zur größten."

"mPowa ist der erste Anbieter, der eine solch innovative und hochinteressante Mobilzahlungslösung für Android bietet. Das Gerät akzeptiert sämtliche großen Kredit- und Geldkarten, darunter Visa, MasterCard und American Express."

"Die jüngste Erweiterung auf Android beweist, dass mPowa eine wahrhaft universale Möglichkeit darstellt, Mobilzahlungen auszuführen und anzunehmen, ungeachtet der geografischen Lage, des Kartenausstellers, des Betriebssystems, des Geräts, der Währung oder der Überprüfungsmethode."

Der Absatz von Android-Telefonen nimmt weltweit zu. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech gab im Juli bekannt, dass Android erstmals für mindestens die Hälfte der Smartphone-Umsätze in Großbritannien, Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Spanien, denUSA und Australien verantwortlich war.^[1]

mPowas Dienst beinhaltet eine kostenfreie Mobile-App sowie ein Lesegerät, mit dem sich jedes Mobiltelefon in eine mobile Kasse verwandeln lässt. Das Lesegerät lässt sich über die Kopfhörerbuchse oder per Bluetooth mit dem Smartphone oder Mobilgerät verbinden.

mPowas Lesegerät kann entweder den Magnetstreifen der Karte lesen oder die Chip- und PIN-Technologie verwenden. Da immer mehr Kreditkartenunternehmen weltweit inzwischen Karten mit Chips einführen, gewinnt diese Technologie zunehmend an Bedeutung - sowohl regional als auch international, wo sie in etlichen Märkten eine Voraussetzung für Handeltreibende ist.

Für Kommentare oder Interviews wenden Sie sich bitte an Rani Gill [Rani@flamepr.com /  +44-203-357-9746] oder Vivienne [Vivienne@flamepr.com /  +44-203-357-97-47] bei Flame PR unter  +44-759-053-41-73. Oder senden Sie eine E-Mail an mpowa@flamepr.com

http://www.mpowa.com

[1] http://www.kantarworldpanel.com/global/News/Android-maintains-Euro-dominance

SOURCE mPowa

Dan Wagner

CEO

mPowa 

The Met Building, 9th Floor,

22 Percy Street,

London W1T 2BU

Neueinsteiger mPowa stellt europaweite Lösung vor und heizt damit den Kampf um den Markt für Mobilzahlungen weiter an

New service to revolutionise card payments in the UK

£35.5 billion of SME bad debt just one of many areas seen to benefit from service

London - A new payment system is launching in the UK that will enable companies of all sizes to accept credit and debit card payments through their mobile phone.

mPowa is a service that includes a mobile phone app and a reader which connects to a smartphone or mobile device either by plugging into its headphone socket or via Bluetooth. It enables customers to make payments on the go using their card in a way never before seen in Britain.

The mobile app is free to download on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Blackberry devices and functions as the control centre that accepts the payment. It monitors payments made by card as well as cash and cheque, as well as processing each transaction securely. The reader, when connected to a mobile phone, is used to swipe the magnetic strip of the card, or for the chip and pin device, the card is inserted and the customer is prompted to enter their PIN code. mPowa will enable businesses, including sole traders, to take payments immediately without waiting for invoices to be issued and paid.

The device is launched as many businesses are struggling to survive because of bad debt. In the UK, £35.5 billion of debt is owed to SMEs alone. In the second half of last year, small and medium firms reported waiting an average of 29.6 days longer than agreed payment terms, which is a figure that represents an increase over the first half of 2011.

Because many firms are currently unable to accept card payments due to the cost of devices, mPowa will function as a way of shortening the payment process from what can be months, to a matter of minutes.

Dan Wagner, Chairman and CEO of Powa Technologies, the company behind mPowa, said, “We created mPowa as a response to an age-old problem that needed a solution – a universal payment system that will enable anyone to accept money from customers without excessive costs or waiting times. Whether you’re a large enterprise looking to mobilise your sales team, a market trader, or a local plumber who wants to accept payment on the spot, even from customers who don’t have cash to hand, this is a unique offering that will have a huge impact right across the country.”

Both the mobile app and reader are free and the only cost associated with using mPowa is the small 25p or 0.25% fee charged for each credit or debit card payment processed, making it accessible to all businesses. And because it accommodates existing banking relationships, there’s no need for a business to change its banking details to use the service.

A web-based Merchant Dashboard account management system enables users to fully monitor payments in addition to the mobile app. Meanwhile, receipts can be sent by email or SMS.
Dan continued, “I am always speaking to businesses that squander valuable time chasing late payments because they were unable to take the money upfront in the first place. This problem is crippling companies who are already struggling in this difficult economic climate and many are having to close their doors because of this. mPowa will be an invaluable service for accepting payments whether the point of sale is the doorstep or the shop floor.”

About mPowa
mPowa is a point of sale device that enables credit and debit card payment s to be made on the go. It consists of a mobile phone app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows or Blackberry devices, and a card reader. This can be either a magnetic stripe reader (MSR) which can be plugged into the phone’s headphone socket or a Chip & PIN device which communicates with the phone through Bluetooth. It is the first service of its kind in the UK.

New service to revolutionise card payments in the UK

iPhone App Gives New Drivers Crucial Stopping Distance and Time Information

The new StopOMeter iPhone app

StopOMeter iPhone app by DSE Technology is potentially set to increase the driving test pass rate, reduce road traffic accidents and save lives

Stratford upon Avon – DSE Technology has launched an iPhone app designed to give new drivers crucial stopping distance and time information, called StopOMeter.

In order to gain experience, drivers have to cover many miles before they begin to understand the relationship between speed of travel and the distance (and time) required for them to come to a stop in an emergency. New drivers have not yet had the luxury of covering enough miles to understand this relationship. But now, the new StopOMeter iPhone app helps them learn about this relationship in a much shorter period of time.

The app shows new drivers what their exact stopping distances and stopping times are from any speed. A countdown system tells the driver whether or not their estimates of stopping distances are correct. In addition, an Eco Driving module promotes smooth and safe driving and teaches superior anticipation skills. The quicker a new driver can learn these essential skills, the less likely they are to be involved in an accident.

The Highway Code states that you should not travel faster than a speed that allows you to “stop comfortably on your own side of the road within the distance you can see to be clear”. The StopOMeter app helps new drivers keep to this golden rule in an easy-to-understand and intuitive format.

"Thanks to StopOMeter, new drivers can quickly learn the skills that experienced drivers take for granted which will help make them safer on the roads in a shorter space of time," says Duncan Mackillop, inventor of the app.

Designed to be mounted inside the car, the StopOMeter also has a Head Up Display mode so that the iPhone can be placed on top of the dashboard allowing the readings to be reflected in the windscreen. Settings for information in Metres or Feet, Mph or Kph and the sensitivity of the Eco Driving module are all easily user selectable. Comprehensive help files and a range of hints and tips for safe driving are also included.

Priced at just £1.19, this must be the lowest-cost driver-safety app available. StopOMeter can be downloaded directly from iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/stopometer/id404444736?mt=8

About the developers

The StopOMeter is the second driver training app to be launched on the iPhone by this team of highly talented software developers (the first being I’ll Drive It, an app for driving instructors). With skills gathered from the aerospace and publishing industries, the team is led by the former research and development director of one of the original dot com companies.

For further information, please contact the Inventor:

Duncan Mackillop
illdriveit.com
1 Hands Paddock
Newbold on Stour
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 8UD

07788 563400
info@illdriveit.com
http://www.illdriveit.com

Submitted by: WorldWidePR.net

iPhone App Gives New Drivers Crucial Stopping Distance and Time Information

New Driving Instructor app for the iPhone Set to Radically Transform UK Driving School Industry

This new app, developed by Motopilot Rider Coaching, incorporates both iPhone’s built-in accelerometer and its global positioning system (GPS) to bring the UK’s driving school industry right up to date.

Stratford on Avon – Launched today, is the new Driving Instructor app for the iPhone, developed by Motopilot Rider Coaching, set to make big changes in the way driving instructors operate, and bringing their industry right up to date.

Driving Instructor app for the iPhone
emergency stop feature

The app provides a complete solution for driving instructors, which takes advantage of iPhone’s built-in accelerometer and its global positioning system (GPS) to provide a repeatable method of giving instant and accurate feedback to students when performing controlled (emergency) stops and eco driving tasks. The app also gives the instructor an easy way of recording changes in students’ competency levels as their driving lessons progress. A simple road sign quiz is included as an additional educational tool.


At the end of each lesson, an email that comprises details of the route taken, brake training tests performed and any eco driving exceedances is automatically sent to the student. A list of all the changes in competency level is included in the email so that the student has a permanent record of their progress.

The app’s main features are:

• Eco Driving – Instant feedback as to how smoothly the student is driving which dramatically improves fuel economy as well as anticipation and planning skills. Exceedances are viewable in Google Earth ©.

• Brake Training - Compares student’s controlled stops to the Highway Code stopping distance table which means no more guesswork as to a pass or fail. Full graph and results given for each test. The student’s efforts can even be compared to the competency of an expert.

• Competencies – Can be changed as the student progresses from lesson to lesson. All Driving Standards Agency (DSA) competencies are included and competency changes are e-mailed to the student at the end of each lesson.

The Driving Instructor iPhone app is the brainchild of Motopilot Rider Coaching’s principal, Duncan Mackillop: “The idea was first conceived because of the profound lack of ability of most drivers to use the brakes properly. I reasoned that if learner drivers had a way of really understanding how good or bad their braking performance was at the early stages of their training, then this would remain with them throughout their driving career,” explains Duncan.

Although the Highway Code gives a clear table of the expected performance for controlled stops, until now there has been no way of relating this data to real world situations. The app gives both the instructor and the learner driver real time and accurate information on the student’s use of the brakes.

The Driving Instructor iPhone app is available now, free, from iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/driving-instructor-app-ill/id369531879?mt=8#

Three student record slots are pre-loaded so that instructors can get started straight away. Additional student driver record slots are available via in-app purchasing for less than £3 each.

About the developers

The Driving Instructor app is the first of a number of driver training apps to be launched on the iPhone by this team of highly talented software developers. With skills gathered from the aerospace and publishing industries, the team is led by the former research and development director of one of the original dot com companies.


For further information, please contact:

Duncan Mackillop
Principal
Motopilot Rider Coaching
1 Hands Paddock
Newbold on Stour
Stratford on Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 8UD

07788 563400
info@illdriveit.com
http://www.illdriveit.com

Submitted by: http://www.worldwidepr.net

New Driving Instructor app for the iPhone Set to Radically Transform UK Driving School Industry