Mastercard has partnered with NMI and Global Payments to launch its first live Cloud Tap on Phone pilot with California-based independent IT services provider, Computer Engineering Group (CEG).
Leading payments enablement technology company NMI operates as a key integration partner and distributor, while worldwide provider of payment technology and software, Global Payments will provide point of sale acceptance technology.
Part of Mastercard’s next generation acceptance products, Cloud Tap on Phone responds to growing popularity of contactless payments, which reached 41% penetration for in-person purchase transactions in Q3 2020, up from 30% on the previous year.
Tap on Phone turns an Android smartphone or tablet into an acceptance device with the software hosted on Microsoft’s Azure Cloud platform. This allows businesses of any size to accept contactless payments while minimising the need for hardware terminals or extra features.
Merchants can offer enhanced and accelerated curbside pick-up or payment on delivery or provide faster checkout in-store.
With the introduction of Cloud Point of Sale (POS), Mastercard is enhancing its Tap on Phone product and empowering ecosystem partners to develop their own Cloud-based products with new tools and capabilities.
Cloud POS moves key parts of the acceptance software from the individual smartphone to the Cloud, offering robust security, reducing development and maintenance costs, and creating scalable distribution channels by allowing immediate connectivity to partners.
Mastercard will make its pre-certified Cloud POS software development kit (SDK) openly available, encouraging solution providers, fintechs, acquirers and processors to innovate and co-create new cloud-first products. Mastercard’s pilot with CEG represents the first live deployment of Mastercard Cloud Tap on Phone anywhere in the world.
“We continue to see an accelerating shift to digital payments, with businesses of all sizes wanting to provide swift, secure, compelling point-of-sale experiences. Cloud POS enables us to make these experiences available to our partners with greater speed and efficiency,” Mastercard Acceptance Solutions Group global head, Milan Gauder said.
Mastercard’s Tap on Phone solution is currently available in 16 markets across Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, the Middle East and Africa.