Telecoms giant Telefónica has partnered with
Ukash and vouchers are now available from 70,000 public phones in
the country, so Spaniards can get Ukash anytime from virtually
anywhere
Ukash, Europe's fastest growing cash solution to pay online, has
inked a deal with telecommunications giant
Telefónica to make Ukash vouchers available from
all traditional telephone kiosks across Spain. The new service,
which will go first live with Habbo Spain, is a key milestone
towards the continuing recognition of the cash customer in the
online space.
Telefónica is a leading global
integrated telecommunications company, with presence in 24
countries and headquartered in Spain. Ukash is already available
from thousands of convenience stores in the country and the new
arrangement provides customers in Spain with an additional 70,000
points of sale and 24-hour availability to buy e-cash anytime and
nearly anywhere.
With a 111% mobile phone penetration in the country today,
Telefónica is looking for
innovative ways to utilise the existing public phone terminals. The
company first upgraded the booths to send SMS to mobiles and emails
in 2003 and turned them into points of sale for small payment
solutions a year later.
To purchase Ukash via
Telefónica kiosks, users follow
the prompts on screen and deposit coins for the voucher's value.
Customers immediately receive their Ukash's 19-digit unique code
via SMS, which can then be used to pay online in a similar way to a
credit/debit card number however without the need to reveal
personal details, eliminating the risk of identity fraud.
Juan Utande Ramiro, Marketing Director Telefónica
Telecomunicaciones Públicas, comments: "Micropayments
have proved to be a fantastic and highly demanded service from our
terminals and we are excited with the new offering from Ukash.
Kiosks are hugely widespread, present in the great majority of
communities, including rural areas. They allow services such as
Ukash to conveniently reach audiences which would be almost
impossible to reach otherwise."
Habbo Spain, the country's branch of the international
social networking site, is already piloting the new service and
will be the first to go live and accept Ukash vouchers
from Telefónica kiosks, with the
initial values of 5 and 10 Euros.
Epifanía Pascual, Habbo Country Manager Spain & Latin
America, welcomes the new collaboration with established partner
Ukash: "We have worked with Ukash to provide payments for two years
now with fantastic results. Our teenage and often unbanked audience
welcomes the convenience and safety of paying with e-cash and the
new offering will allow Habbo users in Spain to be able to
top up their accounts anytime and from virtually anywhere."
Mark Chirnside, CEO Ukash, said: "The deal with
Telefónica and Habbo is
a fantastic testament to our constant search for new and
groundbreaking ways to reach the cash consumers and facilitate
their access to online transactions."
A strong joint marketing and outdoor advertising campaign will
be rolled out shortly to promote the new scheme to Habbo
users in Spain.