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Johannesburg - Passengers can now use a ‘mobile virtual credit card’ to pay for a ride on internet transport service Uber in South Africa.
VCpay is a mobile app that enables people who do not own credit cards to create virtual MasterCards.
The app has been developed by a business unit of Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed Net1 UEPS Technologies called ‘Zazoo’.
The VCpay app uses patented Mobile Virtual Card (“MVC”) technology to allow mobile devices to generate virtual MasterCard payment cards. The company says this can be done offline and without access to a mobile phone network. Meanwhile, the app can be linked to numerous funding options such as credit cards, electronic fund transfers, direct top-ups and cash.
Zazoo managing director Philip Belament says younger people, such as students, are among the target market for this service.
“Though mobile users and e-commerce adoption is rising in South Africa, there is still a large number of South Africans who do not have access to a credit card to enable them to make online and in-app purchases,” said Belamant in a statement.
Alon Lits, General Manager of Uber Johannesburg, said the VCpay service “complements Uber seamlessly”.
Zazoo has further said that its app can generate “anonymous, transaction specific virtual MasterCards that can be used for online purchases, or in brick-and-mortar retailers that accept manual Card Not Present (CNP) payments”.
