SFR Launches PayCard Contactless Card

• SFR launches PayCard, a prepaid contactless MasterCard, managed by the EMI WireCard. Available to SFR customers as well as to non-customers as of October, this universal means of payment is also the first prepaid contactless card in France. To be used for ATM cash withdrawals, in-store and online (in France and abroad), it is valid one year and does not imply any bank account opening.

• Available at sfrpaycard.fr as well as with a large number of newsagents nationwide for 14.90 euros, customers can load funds for free through credit transfers, with cash, by card or even using another SFR PayCard (service charged 1 euro).

• A dedicated mobile app (in Android and iOS) and an SMS alert system have been designed to help cardholders check on their transactions.

Source: Press release

• As mobile media now prevail in this sector, SFR sees this (otherwise) initiative as a first step towards the payments industry and relies on the Ifop/Wincor Barometer (January 2012) reminding that 4% of those interrogated were in favour of prepaid cards to be reloaded in cash and 42% would have liked to have a contactless card.

• The partnership between SFR and MasterCard was sealed last July and, for instance, plans mobile contactless rollouts (including payments). This card aims at reassuring potential users and walking them toward adopting contactless media. Just as well, as of 2013, SFR will only be proposing NFC SIM cards.

• In line with this launch, SFR also announces the availability of a carrier billing option for Google Play Store (starting October 2012).