Cellcom launches payment platform

Cellcom has launched Cellpay, the latest payment platform in the growing domestic mobile commerce market.

In the first phase, Cellpay will allow its users to make payments for Nepal Telecom’s (NT) services — balance recharge, payment of GSM, CDMA and PSTN service and ADSL internet. "It is the first of its kind payment portal that allows pinless recharge for pre-paid mobile service of Nepal Telecom at anytime from anywhere," said managing director of Cellcom Rajendra Bahadur Singh.
Cellpay can be accessed either through a mobile application in smartphones or through SMS service. Customers, who have a deposit account with any of Cellpay’s partner banks can tie up their account with the service after registering themselves with Cellpay.
After the order is placed through a mobile device, the amount is deducted from the bank account and the mobile, landline or internet bill is paid simultaneously.

"Our service will not include any additional charge," added Singh.
At present, Cellpay has affiliated its service with Citizens Bank International, Century Commercial Bank and Kumari Bank.

Any customer without any bank account can also access the service through designated agents like local retailers. "We are in the process of appointing agents who will allow customers to access Cellpay and make payments," he said.

Mobile payment service and mobile commerce is an emerging sector that facilitates the expansion of financial services. Some existing services are Kumari Bank’s Mobile Cash, Finaccess’ Hello Paisa, and F1Soft’s Fonepay and eSewa that provide a platform for mobile and internet payments.
These portals work as a mobile wallet that allows customers to make merchant payments at retailers, and utility payment for phones bills and electricity among others, and even make person to person transfers.