innovation 20/06/2007
Finaref and Téléshopping break new ground in m-commerce : payment by mobile phone using the OKshopping card Orange, SFR and Bouygues Télécom users can now use the OKshopping card to pay for purchases made on the Téléshopping site via their mobile phone. This is the first time a service like this has been offered with a private-label card in France. The partnership between Finaref and Téléshopping has produced this new service that features a host of payment options. Mobile phones are acknowledged as the future of shopping. As a result, a multi-channel retailer like Téléshopping needed to develop services accessible by mobile phone. Téléshopping’s retail website is already accessible through Gallery, a mobile phone search engine that can be used by Orange and SFR users, as well as through the Bouygues Telecom i-modeTM service and WAP portal. Finaref and Téléshopping’s new service is designed to make shopping easier. Since 20 March, purchases made using this mobile multimedia service can be paid for securely with the OKshopping private-label card. Consumers can even select the repayment period. The OKshopping card is the first private-label credit card that can be used as an m-commerce payment method in France. Finaref and Téléshopping are supporting this technological advance with promotional offers to encourage take-up of the service. Julien Gelot, who manages Finaref’s relationship with Téléshopping, made the following comments: "This initiative forms part of Finaref’s innovation policy. It fulfils our aim of working with our partners and developing retail activity. Finaref helps brands enhance their strategies for winning and retaining customers. This is why Finaref and Téléshopping have moved into m-commerce together." "We developed this new service because Téléshopping has always been present across all consumer sales channels. All analyses suggest that m-commerce is about to take off. As a multi-channel retail brand, Téléshopping needs to be ahead of the curve in m-commerce services," explained Mathieu Dhordain, head of m-commerce development in Téléshopping’s internet department. Olivier Dubois, head of Téléshopping’s customer loyalty and credit department – which covers customer loyalty programmes, marketing databases and consumer finance – added: "We are very happy with our partnership with Finaref. As part of our joint developments in m-commerce, Téléshopping and Finaref intend to make this card one of our customers’ favoured payment methods." Previous Next