Cell phone users in Tonga can now use their mobile phones in much the same way as they can use a plastic banking card to pay for goods and services in shops; and they do not need a bank account to transfer and receive money from overseas..

The idea of using a special chip in cell phones with a prepaid account has allowed the service to expand rapidly to people in the developing world who do not have bank accounts, credit cards or bank cards. Tonga is among the first in the South Pacific to embrace the latest technology that uses cell phones in shops.

Digicel Tonga launched its new service called "Beep & Go" this month, stating that its customers can pay for goods and services with a simple tap of their phone at more than 40 locations in the capital of Nuku’alofa. The system uses contactless payment technology to enable Tongans to use their mobiles to buy goods, make payments, deposit or withdraw cash instantly on their mobiles at local stores.

"With more than 300 Tongan shops planning to offer ‘Beep & Go’ by August, Nuku’alofa’s Central Business District is set to become the first mobile payments hub in the Pacific," Digicel Tonga stated.

Digicel Pacific Head of Mobile Financial Services, Annie Smith believed that Digicel is transforming the way the people of Tonga transact and this sets a new standard for mobile payments globally. “This is the first instance of a fully inclusive mass-market, mobile payment solution that doesn’t require a bank account, smart phone or credit card.  It can be used with any mobile phone, which means everyone can benefit from these fast and secure payments. This solution places Tonga well ahead of established markets like Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US where services are aimed only at the section of the market that are enabled with smart phones and credit cards,” she said.

To get cash onto their mobile wallet Digicel customers can deposit at any Digicel Agent or recognised merchant, receive a salary payment, or receive a domestic payment or international Mobile Money transfer. The Digicel Mobile Money international transfer service was launched in October 2011 and enables family in New Zealand or Australia to send payments instantly at a low flat fee from a bank account or retail agent to a Digicel mobile in Tonga, Samoa or Fiji.

Customers need to have a special NFC microchip attached to their mobile, which is recognised by a special point of sale terminal. At the point of purchase the owner of the mobile simply waves it near the POS terminal in the store and enters their secret PIN to authorise a secure payment.  Digicel plans to make its entire customer base NFC capable over the next 12 months and to introduce International Bill Payments and other new services to its unique payments system over the coming weeks.  The next generation NFC payments solution is the result of a partnership between Digicel, Verifone mWallet, and New Zealand based currency exchange company KlickEx.

United Kingdom

The expansion of Digicel’s Mobile Money service in the Pacific has recently extended its international remittance service to the UK, building on the success of the service launched in New Zealand and Australia last October.

Annie said the expansion of the service to the UK is exciting and part of Digicel’s commitment to make Mobile Money services affordable, efficient and accessible to all customers in the Pacific. “A large majority of people in our Pacific markets do not have bank accounts, so this international money transfer service to a mobile wallet is a safer and more convenient way to transfer money. Because of the low fees, it means more money is making it home,” she said.

In Fiji, Digicel Fiji believes that the service will be an effective way for Fijians serving in the British Army to send money home to their families. There are more than 3,000 Fijians serving in the regiments and 1,000 more in the UK for study or work.