RemitCard hopes to widen its market for m-commerce

RemitCard, the all-Filipino-owned company that pio-neered cash remittance through SMS, has expanded its network to cover more establishments across the country.

The m-commerce company, headed by former bank executive Philip Camara, has added the Salesian Mission, Bantay Kalikasan, the Citizens Movement for Federal Philippines (CMFP), the St. Augustine Minor Seminary and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to its roster of NGO partners.

"We now have more than 23 million people running their lives via their cellphones. It’s but natural that the gadget is used for financial transactions," Camara said.

A study made by BNP Paribas reveals that Philippine mobile subscriber growth is now at 39 percent. As such, the number of Filipino mobile phone subscribers is expected to reach over 30 million by yearend.

"Based on a population of 83.9 million, total market penetration is expected to reach 36 percent," the BNP Paribas report said.

People can now go directly to RemitCard distribution centers at SM Department Store Customer Service, Rustans Supermarket Customer Service, Sari Sari in Glorietta 3, SM Manila, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, Shangri-La, Book Wagon at the SM Megamall, Plum Boutique at Glorietta, and Paper Clips at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell.

RemitCards are also available at True Value Home Center Stores in Park Square, Powerplant, Shangri-La Plaza and Alabang Town Center; Papelmelrotti along Roces Avenue; Books for Less and Lumiere Restaurant along Makati Avenue.

By incorporating a PIN for each RemitCard, people can "text" their financial transactions through their cellular phones, to the company’s servers, which then process and immediately download them to the company’s partner-institutions.

The revolutionary product, first embraced by non-government organizations such as World Vision, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Jesuit Volunteers and Haribon, is now being used as a membership card by the World Wildlife Fund and the CMFP. RemitCard allows members of these NGOs to "text" dues and donations to their respective organizations.

All donors have to do is follow simple text messaging instructions on the back of each RemitCard to make their donations to the NGOs.

"It makes an ideal gift because it is convenient for both the sender and receiver," Camara said.

"We’ve made sure RemitCards are available at retail outlets to let people experience the convenience of ‘texting’ their financial transactions, instead of having to experience the hassle of traveling to different places to make their payments or donations," he added.

RemitCard is currently working with university alumni associations, airlines, pre-need and insurance companies, and mall gift certificate facilitators to widen the market for SMS-based m-commerce in the country.

The company is also set to launch "Text Padala Card" for domestic and international remittances this month.