Kaios and Mastercard to help SMEs in emerging markets adopt digital payments

Mobile operating system KaiOS brings the internet to affordable devices, has announced a partnership with payments giant Mastercard to integrate a range of digital payment solutions for emerging markets, starting with Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

As the partners explain, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), especially in emerging markets, still struggle to adopt digital payments. That’s why KaiOS and Mastercard are partnering to help millions of SMBs around the world accept digital payments using KaiOS devices.

The promise is that even the smallest businesses will be able to use low-cost devices to safely and easily accept payments via Mastercard QR Pay by Link; It is stated that Tap & Go contactless payment technology is promised in the near future.

Business owners can use their KaiOS-powered phones to sign up for the service. SMBs can access and use various digital payment options immediately after entering their registered credentials and authenticating with a one-time password.

Sebastien Codeville, CEO of KaiOS Technologies, explains: “By bringing Mastercard’s secure payment technology to affordable internet phones running KaiOS, we are unlocking new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, allowing them to participate more fully in modern commerce. “This innovation breaks down barriers and enables an affordable consumer device to become a powerful business tool.”

Mastercard and KaiOS will focus primarily on African markets, collaborating with partners such as Touch and Pay Technologies (TAP), a Nigerian IT services company leveraging NFC (near field communication) technology, and Wizzit, a global innovative payment solution provider with offices in South Africa. . This will help the startup expand access to sellers in the marketplace.

“By integrating KaiOS into our platform, we are enabling millions of users with feature phones to access seamless digital payment solutions and financial services that were previously inaccessible,” said Olamide Afolabi, TAP Chief Executive Officer.

Dirk Bruynse, Chief Operating Officer at Wizzit, adds: “This partnership will enable us to scale our migration capabilities and deliver innovative payment solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses of all sizes.”

KaiOS currently works with all major operators, mobile network operators and mobile phone manufacturers in developing regions. It says its expansion plans include acquiring banks, payment facilitators, fintechs and more.