Apps Tech News

Payment service provider CreditCall, in partnership with Elavon, is rolling out what is claimed to be the world’s first mobile payment app which allows UK businesses on the move to utilise Chip and PIN on Android and Blackberry devices.

The revolutionary app, called Elavon MobileMerchant, launches today following a highly successful five month trial, and has been approved by UK banks.

The mobile app accepts Mastercard and Visa cards in conjunction with a card reader. Once payment has been agreed and PIN inserted, the pad connects via Bluetooth to the app which transfers the encrypted card information to the bank, via the phone’s Internet connection.

Further, users are able to utilise an online reporting tool to track payments or card not present (CNP) transactions.

According to CreditCall, the app therefore “offers businesses an inexpensive, secure and easy to use solution for card acceptance and cash flow improvement”.

User security is absolutely paramount, with the app not retaining any sensitive data and traffic being fully encrypted. The app is also compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

Prior to the collaboration with Elavon, the technology had previously been available under the name of CardEase Mobile.

Guy Harris, Elavon’s European managing director, said that the security of the app “leav[es] no room for fraudsters to compromise sensitive cardholder data while maintaining the highest level of user experience”.

The app joins a highly competitive field for mobile payment apps – including Barclays’ Pingit app as well as PayPal’s Mobile Payment service – yet Elavon MobileMerchant is unique in combining a Chip and PIN reader with a mobile app.

How much of a development is this going to be for small businesses that work away from the office?