Smart Communications Inc. and Rocket Internet’s Zalora Philippines is making it easier for Filipinos without credit cards or even bank accounts to shop online. The two companies are introducing a new electronic and mobile payments platform called MePay.
Instead of providing a credit card number, what you need to set up a MePay account would be your Philippine mobile number. You can top up your accounts via direct transfer from Smart Money accounts or through Smart Money Padala centers around the country.
MePay can now be used to pay for purchases made on Zalora. Those who shop using MePay this Christmas season can get up to 25 percent off of purchases.
And since it helps process online payments, they also plan to use it for Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and all MetroPacific group of companies (including the utilities). They didn’t specify when this would be available for other services at the moment but we should expect more updates in the coming months.
It is currently just available in the Philippines but they intend to bring it to other countries with low banking and credit card penetration. You would also need to be on a Web browser to register for a MePay account. But within the first quarter of 2015, you will be able to register via mobile.
