Ukash, the fast growing global e-commerce payment solution, has
today announced that Canada will be the first country in North
America to make Ukash e-cash available to consumers. Through a deal
with VendTek Systems Inc under its brand Now Prepay, Ukash will be
available from 4,000 point of sale terminals in Ontario, before
expanding to a total of 15,000 outlets across Canada by the end of
the year.
Having extended its global footprint to Australia in August 2009
and South America earlier this month in a continued effort to bring
easy, controlled and anonymous online cash payments to everyone
including those without credit or debit cards from anywhere in the
world; Ukash is now making its entry into the North American market
where there are over 70 million unbanked consumers[1].
With the continued growth of online shopping in Canada and
industry reports revealing that Canadians placed
almost $12.8 billion worth of orders in 2007[2], the need for a
range of alternative payment solutions to support consumers
presents an opportunity for Ukash to tap into digitally excluded
consumers as well as those with concerns about online fraud.
Mark Chirnside, chief executive officer, Ukash said: "North
America is a territory with huge potential for the Ukash
proposition. High rates of unbanked consumers at this time, largely
due to poor credit history and immigrants unable to get bank
accounts, means that there is a growing number of cash consumers
who want to spend online. Canada is a key territory for the Ukash
proposition and working with Now Prepay will give us the prominence
needed to expand our availability across Canada before launching in
other countries across the Americas."
Doug Buchanan, President of VendTek said,"Ukash offers an
electronic cash payment source and an important solution for people
who are looking for an alternative to credit cards. We have
been interested in an on-line payment product for our network and
Ukash has an e-commerce payment solution that is an excellent fit
with our network. We are very excited to partner with them to
enable money transfer services over the Now Prepay network in
Canada."
Ukash vouchers, which allow consumers to shop, pay and play
online using cash, will be available from 15,000 point of sale
terminals across Canada including independent convenience stores
and gas stations. Vouchers will be available in 25, 50, 75, 100,
150 denominations of Canadian dollars. Ukash is particularly
popular with consumers who do not have access to credit and debit
cards or those that are fearful of online fraud. Users receive a
voucher containing a 19-digit code which can be used to pay at
thousands of online merchants.
Ukash is also available in the UK, mainland Europe, South
Africa, Australia and South America and has an existing global
network of 300,000 physical points of purchase. Purchases of Ukash
vouchers in Canada will be subject to a fee.
[1] 2008 First
Data White Paper
[2]
2007 Canadian Internet Use Survey, conducted as a supplement
to the Labour Force Survey.