OREANDA-NEWS. January 10, 2007. Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan www.halykbank.kz) together with “Kar-Tel” LLP (www.beeline.kz ) and Visa International (www.visa.com) announced launching of  joint project – placement of Halyk Bank applet on  Beeline SIM-card enabling direct payment for goods and services from mobile phone using “Verified by Visa” technology, reported the press-centre of Halyk Bank.

This project will allow the client of the Bank to more extend options of their bank account individual remote control, and for the country in whole this event will symbolize emergence of absolutely new business line -  m-commerce market.

Just to remind: The first mobile banking account control system in Kazakhstan was launched by Halyk Bank on 19th April 2005 within the framework of a pilot project with VISA CEMEA – “Mobile Bank”- “Verified by Visa”. Integrators of this solution were the following companies:

Intervale (Gomel), SmartCardLink (Moscow) and Open Way (St-Petersburg). At present “Mobile banking” system has more than 213 thousand users covering all Kazakhstan cellular communication operators (Altel JSC, Dalacom, Pathword),  Kar-Tel LLP (Beeline),  GSM Kazakhstan LLP (K-cell, Activ), Mobile-Telecom-Service (NEO) as well as two Kyrgyz (Sky Mobil  LLC (Bitel and MobiCard)) and BiMoKom Ltd (MegaCom). At first two stages of the project users were given prompt SMS-notices at any change of  their card-account balance,  they could request  card balance, operations records, block their card, inquire their debt to the bank, tariffs for services and  other various information services. Payment services were limited to the so called predetermined payment, payment for their mobile phone which is conditioned by rather strict requirements of the National Bank of Kazakhstan for mandatory use of electronic digital signature (EDS) while making electronic transactions.

The third stage of the project represents a placement of the Bank applet and the client’s EDS keys on SIM-card providing a legal option to users of making payment using mobile phone to the account of any organization and for any subscriber. Even now the first Beeline SIM -card holders using mobile banking menu are able to pay for services of 40 Kazakhstani companies as follows:

- Mobile communications (Beeline, K-cell, Activ, NEO, Dalacom, Pathword)
- Municipal telephone and provider services (Kaztelecom)
- Cable TV (Alma-TV, Digital TV)
- Utilities  for 12 regions of Kazakhstan

One of the advantages of this project is provision of the client with an opportunity to independently adjust payment menu in its mobile phone (each applet was preliminary loaded by republican organizations only. Using “Add/Delete Menu Point” option and the list of organizations available on the site http://www.halykbank.kz/cards/mobil_banking/m-commerce user at any moment will be able to delete and add providers of services. 

Upon appearance of any republican provider the Bank in its turn will promptly upload it to telephones of all users of SIM-cards with banking applet. One of such services in the nearest future will be a credit repaying option using mobile phone payments as well as transfers to a payment card of any world bank within P2P Visa Money Transfer project. Plans for the year 2008 also include development of such m-commerce service as connection of sellers of film tickets, flowers and presents, air tickets etc enabling to buy the same via mobile phones.

In order to become the holder of Beeline SIM-card with m-commerce menu  you just need to visit    Beeline Subscribers Department in any Kazakhstan city and either replace available SIM-card with a card containing the applet  free of charge or buy a start  Beeline package with the banking applet on SIM-card. Then following instructions in a SIM- card envelope activate the applet via ATM or Halyk Bank service centers. Today this project is starting in Almaty but early in 2008 SIM-cards and applet activation menu will be available in all Kazakhstan cities.