Mastercard has partnered with NMI and Global Payments Inc. to launch its first live Cloud Tap on Phone pilot with independent IT services provider, Computer Engineering Group (CEG). Mastercard reported that Cloud Tap on Phone is one of its innovative next generation acceptance products, with the software hosted on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.
“With Tap on Phone, any business – regardless of size – can deliver new and best-in-class contactless consumer experiences using a device they already own: a smartphone. Tap on Phone democratizes point-of-sale technology by turning an Android smartphone or tablet into an acceptance device, allowing businesses to accept contactless payments minimizing the need to invest in hardware terminals or extra features.”
Mastercard further noted that merchants can offer enhanced and accelerated curbside pick-up or payment on delivery, or provide faster line-skipping checkout in-store, options that are increasingly important as consumers look to touch-free cash alternatives. Speaking about the launch, Milan Gauder, Global Head of Mastercard’s Acceptance Solutions Group, stated:
“We continue to see an accelerating shift to digital payments, with businesses of all sizes wanting to provide swift, secure, compelling point-of-sale experiences. Cloud POS enables us to make these experiences available to our partners with greater speed and efficiency. Our partners are the center of everything we do, and our trusted technology powers innovative experiences, choice, flexibility and certainty, creating the products they need. Mastercard’s Cloud Tap on Phone delivers on our promise of ground-breaking products and innovation.”
Mastercard added it will make its pre-certified Cloud POS software development kits (SDKs) openly available in multiple cloud environments, encouraging solution providers, fintechs, acquirers and processors to innovate and co-create new cloud-first products.