VeriFone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), today announced that its Vx 670 mobile payment system has been selected and deployed by China’s Tianjin Electric Power Corporation to facilitate residential on-site card payments of electricity bills.
Tianjin Electric is a major contributor to the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan power grid in Northern China and supplies electricity to 11 million people in more than 4 million households. The utility purchased VeriFone’s Vx 670 with GPRS to enable collectors to process bill payments with CUP credit cards at the door of residential customers.
“Tianjin Electric selected the VeriFone solution because it was the best in achieving stringent requirements for reliable and secure transaction processing in demanding environments,” said Zvi Mitlanski, vice president & general manager, VeriFone ASPAC. “In a service area covering almost 12,000 square kilometers, VeriFone’s payment solution provides required extended standby time, small form factor, strong signal capabilities, fast printing and a low failure rate, while providing the highest security and reliability.”
Residents in Tianjin can now pay for their electricity bills at home, using their credit cards issued by China UnionPay (CUP). Utility customers can also take advantage of additional capabilities including paying mobile and residential telephone bills, and topping up prepaid cards.
The Vx670 is an all-in-one wireless handheld payment device in the smallest form factor available in the industry and was purpose-built for wireless, customer-facing payment. It was designed to be rugged, drop-resistant, and spill-resistant to hold up to the most demanding conditions.
“Effective tools are necessary to ensure Tianjin Electronic Power Corporation is able to meet our customers’ expectation, and enhance their service experience,” commented Jia Peigang, manager of Tianjin Electric’s Utility Bill Management Centre. “With VeriFone’s Vx670, our customers can now trust us to provide a reliable power source, as well as efficient and convenient bill payments plus additional value-added services.”
