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Mobile payment war
What is holding back mobile payments — or paying by phone — in Indonesia?
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What is holding back mobile payments — or paying by phone — in Indonesia? (Shutterstock/-)
P
ayment systems have come a long way since 700 BC when the first metal coins were used as a method of barter. What is holding back mobile payments — or paying by phone — in Indonesia? It uses a device we are already carrying and it works well in Europe, China and even Africa.
Mobile payment systems, even in the United States, require the latest smartphones and retailers need to have the right payment terminals.
For example, Apple Pay and Android Pay require payment terminals with near field communication (NFC) technology.
Samsung Pay does not require this technology and can work at stores that have old-fashioned magnetic stripe readers at their cash registers. However, only the latest high-end Samsung devices are equipped with this system.
Neither Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay is available in Indonesia right now.
In Indonesia, mobile payment through apps provided by banks or telecommunications companies is more popular. TCash from Telkomsel is the biggest telecom e-wallet service.
Companies like Starbucks even use their own special payment apps. In conclusion, there are tons of different mobile payment apps and systems out there.
