Absa launches Payment Pebble customer service

The Payment Pebble offers businesses and customers the security of being able to pay and getting paid with a debit or credit card conveniently and securely, anywhere, anytime.

A wholly South African innovation, the Payment Pebble is an easy-to-use, cashless mobile payment solution that plugs into the 3.5mm audio jack of compatible smartphones and tablets to enable secure card payments.

The defining feature that sets Payment Pebble apart from other mobile card machines is its world-first touch-screen PIN entry method. The unique touchscreen scroll-wheel facility on the smartphone or tablet makes it virtually impossible to decipher the PIN digits being entered. This ensures that Payment Pebble is more secure than any other point of sale (POS) device.

This ground-breaking PIN entry method has been endorsed by all relevant regulatory bodies and is breaking ground globally. Absa is working with international regulators to introduce this PIN entry method as a new global standard.

Empowering entrepreneurs

Arrie Rautenbach, head of Retail Banking Africa, says that the launch of Payment Pebble empowers entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by making it easier for them to accept card payments.

"This is one of our initial successes, which is designed to make our customers' lives - and in turn, their customers' lives - much easier. Payment Pebble has the potential to completely transform the way service providers and merchants conduct business," he says.

The opportunities are endless: plumbers, electricians, repair men, door-to-door salespeople, marketplace merchants and roadside craft market vendors can now accept card payments from any customer with a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card for as little as R50 (excluding VAT) per month for the first year and R20 (excluding VAT) per month thereafter.

The Payment Pebble eliminates the need for fixed premises and internet connectivity in order to process payments for goods and services with a debit or credit card. All the Payment Pebble requires is a compatible smartphone with an internet connection and it's available to all merchants, whether they bank with Absa or not.

Proof of payment

Accepting card payments reduces the risk of cash handling for customers and merchants, which makes buying and selling goods safer for both parties. The Payment Pebble doesn't print physical receipts, but sends customers proof of payment via SMS or email upon conclusion of the transaction.

The list of compatible Apple, Android and Blackberry devices grows daily, making Payment Pebble one of the quickest, safest and most affordable ways for businesses, small enterprises and entrepreneurs to start accepting card payments.

If integrated with a smartphone or tablet's GPS, the Payment Pebble can provide valuable business data - such as time and location of transactions - which will allow businesses to plan better and make use of these insights to formulate business development plans.