Axis Bank launches Call & Pay on atom

Axis Bank has announced the launch of Axis Call & Pay on atom, a mobile payments solution using Axis Bank debit cards. Axis Bank is the first bank in the country to provide a secure debit card-based payment service over IVR.

This service offers the convenience of making payments anywhere, anytime over the mobile phone. The technology for this service has been developed by atom technologies, a digital, retail initiative of the Financial Technologies Group.

To avail of this service, Axis Bank customers need to link their mobile number to their Debit Card. This can be done by them at any Axis Bank ATM. Once this is done, the system gives a call-back and guides them to set a 6 digit mPIN, which has to be used during each transaction.

Manju Srivatsa, President, Retail Banking, Axis Bank, said, “India has seen remarkable growth in its debit card market over the past few years. The debit card spends at merchant POS terminals increased significantly by 48% to Rs. 18,547 crores during 2009. The debit card spends stood at Rs.12,521 crores for the previous financial year. Customers were, however, unable to pay remotely using debit cards. Axis Call and Pay makes it convenient for our customers to get the most out of their Debit Card, while on the move, in a secure manner.”

Dewang Neralla, Director, atom technologies, said, “One of the major concerns for tele commerce growth in India has been the risk involved in making card-based payments over the mobile phone. With Axis Call & Pay on atom, we are confident that our secure IVR services will boost mobile payments using debit cards in India and will be highly beneficial for Axis Bank customers.”

Axis Call & Pay on atom transactions will only be possible at atom technologies enabled merchants. As and when new merchants are integrated and enabled by atom technologies, they will be available on this system. The list would be updated on the Web site. Currently, it is made live on Vodafone, Tata Sky, Sun Direct, and Dish TV. In a short time, this payment facility would be enabled on around 100 major merchants across different categories of utilities like Telecom, Mobile, Entertainment, Travel, Insurance, etc. The advantage of the service is that it works with any mobile phone and any connection as it uses the calling functionality on the mobile.