JCB, Japan’s international payment brand, is leveraging Malaysia’s Soft Space’s technological expertise to develop the Tap on Mobile programme that capitalises on the wide availability of Android smartphones equipped with NFC (near-field communication). The programme enables merchants to accept card payments by simply having their customers tap their card on the merchant’s mobile phone.

This expansion is consistent with a previous statement to Fintech News Malaysia by Soft Space’s CEO Joel Tay which he shared that the company has their eyes set on Japan where they can leverage off their existing relationship with Sumitomo Mitsui Card.

JCB Contactless card or mobile device can be used at any merchants that support JCB Contactless, Aimed at driving greater contactless acceptance among JCB acquirers worldwide, JCB has developed the Tap on Mobile programme which will be used to govern all aspects of contactless payment transactions securely made on NFC-enabled Android smartphones, off the shelf. This programme is secure and interoperable based on EMV and PCI standards.

Similarly, in Malaysia, Soft Space deployed tap-on-mobile solutions in collaboration with the likes of PayNet and Maybank,

“We are pleased to be working with Soft Space on this Tap on Mobile programme,”

said Tac Watanabe, the Executive Vice President for JCB’s Brand Infrastructure and Technologies Department.

“The Tap on Mobile is secure yet convenient for our customers, and given the growth of contactless payment transaction and consumer smartphones worldwide, we believe that the Tap on Mobile will be the key initiative for JCB to drive our contactless agenda to grow globally.”

“We are privileged to be working on JCB’s Tap on Mobile programme,”

said Joel Tay, Chief Executive Officer of Soft Space.

“With businesses being constantly challenged by changing global economic scenarios, Tap on Mobile is a tool that can aid them through such times by offering them an innovative, cost-effective and secure payment solution.”