PLDT, Smart step up digital innovations

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc.  are looking to bring more digital innovations to consumers following the introduction of PayMaya Visa Card.

“As our group leads in building the physical infrastructure of a modern Philippines, we are also at the forefront in deploying digital and citizen-friendly services. We look forward to bringing even more innovations to the Filipino consumer in the near future,” PLDT and Smart chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement yesterday.

The statement was made following yesterday’s launch of the PayMaya Visa Card by Smart eMoney Inc., the digital financial innovations unit of PLDT and Smart.

The PayMaya Visa Card is the first live beep card in the market that combines the best of online transactions with a physical payments card.

By using the PayMaya Visa card with beep, customers can easily purchase train fare for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT), just like a regular beep stored value card and tap it on contactless terminals.

The PayMaya Visa card with beep can be used to swipe for purchases in physical stores and for online shopping.

As a special limited offer until the end of the year, commuters can avail of the PayMaya Visa Card with beep for free plus a bonus P30 beep stored value just by loading their PayMaya account with P100 in PayMaya activation booths in selected LRT and MRT stations.

“This is another breakthrough in Smart Money’s storied journey since the introduction of its pioneering mobile money Smart Money platform more than fourteen years ago,” Smart e-Money president Orlando B. Vea said.

To avail of the new card, customers just have to download the PayMaya mobile app and go to the activation centers to get the PayMaya Visa card with beep.

Users of the PayMaya mobile app can also buy discounted prepaid Smart and Talk N’ Text load.

For upgraded PayMaya accounts, they can also use their PayMaya Visa card with beep to withdraw cash from the PayMaya wallet from any automated teller machine, as well as easily send money to other PayMaya users with upgraded accounts.

To make it more convenient for customers, Smart eMoney is broadening the availability of PayMaya load centers to include not only train stations but other establishments such as 7-11 stores, Robinson’s business centers, SM business centers, MiniStop stores, Smart Jump centers and Smart Padala outlets nationwide, among others.

Smart eMoney, together with Voyager Innovations, the digital innovations arm of PLDT and Smart, has been introducing several innovative services and partnerships in the areas of payments and e-commerce.

Earlier, BMI Research, the think-tank arm of the Fitch group said the product offering of Smart Money will be strengthened through partnerships, and give Smart an edge over rival operator Globe’s GCash service.

 Smart eMoney is the first non-financial institution in Asia to be granted by Visa with an issuing and acquiring license.

For more information on the PayMaya Visa Card, consumers can visit www.paymaya.com.