NETS, SingTel and UOB Launch a NFC Pilot in Singapore Using ViVOtech’s OTA Technology

ViVOtech Enables First Real-Time Coupon Redemption System as Well as Stored Value Purse and Over-The-Air Top-Up for NFC Mobile Phones

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(AllPayNews)--Silicon Valley-based ViVOtech, the leader in Near Field Communication (NFC) and contactless payment systems, announced today that its NFC mobile payment wallet, Over-the-Air (OTA) payment, coupon delivery and redemption technologies are being used jointly by NETS, SingTel and United Overseas Bank Ltd. (UOB) for an ongoing NFC mobile phone payment trial in Singapore. The solution is the first in which users simply open a coupon on their NFC-enabled phones and flash it to a NETS FlashPay reader for automatic redemption. The trial also introduced the first Stored Value Purse in Asia on NFC mobile phones and Over-the-Air (OTA) servers to enable downloading and top-up of stored value accounts on the NFC phones, as announced in September 2007.

“We are gratified to have been selected for this innovative pilot by NETS & SingTel,” said Michael Mullagh, ViVOtech CEO. “Consumers are excited to use their mobile phones to make payments and participate in promotion programs. At ViVOtech, we are building solutions that support the entire NFC ecosystem so users can make everyday payments, ride transportation, secure ticketing and get savings coupons easily through their mobile phones.

“NETS’ long partnership with ViVOtech on contactless readers and mobile phone payments continues to pay off as we deliver our customers cutting-edge applications for payments and promotions. ViVOtech’s software products for NFC-based mobile phone couponing and payments, completed with Over-the-Air capabilities, further extend the value of the NETS products we already deliver in this region.”

In the pilot program, SingTel users can download a SingTel wallet application that will allow them to store and top up value on the mNETS payment application in their phones at any time. Users are then able to make payments using NETS FlashPay by merely flashing their SingTel mobile phones at more than 500 participating merchants islandwide, each one equipped with ViVOpay 5000 NETS FlashPay contactless terminals. Topping up of the mNETS card is performed over the air anytime and anywhere from the phone after registration of a SingTel-UOB credit card.

The SingTel wallet is also equipped with an electronic coupon application that provides SingTel customers with discounts and other incentives and freebies. A simple flash of NFC-powered mobile phone on mNETS posters or at other smart billboards will initiate an OTA download of the mNETS Coupon that is affiliated with the promotion. Again, users simply flash the Coupon on NETS FlashPay readers for the coupon to be automatically redeemed.

The mobile payment initiative is part of NETS’ and SingTel’s vision of bringing mobile payments to Singaporeans. NETS is studying this initiative under its broader mNETS strategy to make mobile payments pervasive across the Singapore economy.

To date, ViVOtech has enabled more than 25 NFC phone trials globally. ViVOtech’s NFC mobile payments, promotions, Over-The-Air (OTA) provisioning infrastructure software, transaction management software, NFC smart posters and contactless terminals are part of the company’s portfolio of solutions that complement and complete mobile ecommerce networks and its ecosystem. For more information on ViVOtech’s solutions, please visit www.vivotech.com.

About ViVOtech

ViVOtech (www.vivotech.com) is the market leader in near field communication (NFC) mobile payments, promotions and Over-the-Air (OTA) provisioning infrastructure software, transaction management software, NFC smart posters, and contactless terminals. These innovative solutions allow millions of consumers to make contactless payments with radio frequency-enabled credit/debit cards, fobs and NFC mobile phones. ViVOtech's products are used by the most prominent retailers all over the globe and today the company has shipped over 450,000 contactless terminals to more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2007 & 2008, ViVOtech was named #1 in ABI Research’s Contactless/NFC Reader Ranking Report. ViVOtech was also recognized as Top Contactless Payment Technology Vendor in Aberdeen Group’s “Retail Contactless Payment Report.” ViVOtech has received strategic investments from First Data Corporation, a leading provider of electronic and payment solutions for businesses worldwide, Citi, the leading global financial services company, NCR Corporation, a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationship with their customers and Motorola, known globally for innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband communications.

About NETS

NETS celebrates its 23rd Anniversary in 2008. The company was founded in 1985 to operate and manage an on-line debit payment service. It has since pioneered Singapore’s move to cashless society and grown from a single to a multi–service organisation, providing a comprehensive range of electronic payment services.

Based in Singapore, NETS is expanding internationally with a vision to be the preferred world-class solutions provider for payment and processing services, accepting multi-media and multi-channel transactions on behalf of companies, institutions and individuals around the world. NETS products and services are currently marketed throughout Asia, including China, Hong Kong and South East Asia.

NETS provides merchants, banks and consumers with fast and convenient electronic payment services for carrying out everyday transactions. With a willingness to push new technology frontiers, NETS is continuously developing new payment solutions to create an integrated multimedia platform that allows payments to be made seamlessly across mobile, wireless and physical arenas. With a growing range of payment services, NETS is poised to become the integrated payment gateway for Asia.

Find more information on NETS and its payment services at http://www.nets.com.sg.

About SingTel

SingTel is Asia's leading communications group providing a portfolio of services including voice and data services over fixed, wireless and Internet platforms. It has a network of 37 offices in 19 countries and territories throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. Together with its regional partners, SingTel is Asia’s largest multi-market mobile operator, serving more than 185 million mobile customers in eight markets. More information can be found at http://www.singtel.com.

Contacts
SS|PR for ViVOtech
Kristin Miller, 719-634-8292
kmiller@sspr.com