July 13, 2013 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES Technology Posted on June 17, 2013 09:32:25 PM By Jeffrey O. Valisno, Sub-Editor SM expands e-payment system, teams up with telco for IMAX card THE SM Group announced plans to expand its current e-payment system for cinema tickets to enable users to pay for other mall services like transport shuttles and parking. RELATED STORIES Doctors develop $260 test-tube baby system Smart, MCA Music tie-up to launch online music store Japan broadcasters ban Panasonic ‘smart’ TV commercial China court hears case claiming Apple’s ‘Siri’ is a copycat Geothermal energy developer ventures into aquaculture Edgar C. Tejerero, senior vice-president of West Avenue Theatres Corp. (operator of SM movie theaters nationwide), told reporters last week that SM’s e-Plus smart card launched last year can now be used for cashless transactions at UV Express Shuttles in SM Passenger Terminals. Mr. Tejerero said the reloadable card can also be used to pay for parking in all SM mall-parking buildings, as well as to pay for concert tickets purchased from SM Tickets. The e-Plus card can also be used to pay for the admission tickets for SM Mall of Asia Arena, SM Science Discovery Center, SM Bowling, SM Ice Skating, SM Storyland, SM Directors Club Cinemas, and SM IMAX Theaters. The card can now also be used to pay for popcorn and sodas at the SM Snacktime booths, the official added. By November, Mr. Tejerero said the SM e-Plus card can be used at all SM retail stores, including department stores and supermarkets, as well as in UNIQLO, Forever 21 and Toy Kingdom outlets. “Soon it will also be accepted in all SM merchants nationwide to provide cashless convenience coupled with a variety of exciting, exclusive perks and more savings,” Mr. Tejerero said. Envisioned to be like Hong Kong’s Octopus Card, and Singapore’s EZ Card, the SM e-Plus Card enables users to make purchases and payments with a simple tap or swipe or their cards, instead of bringing cash and waiting for their change. Sahara Jean Garnica, business unit head of SM’s e-Plus, said customers who want to avail of the new card can purchase a prepaid kit worth P300. Ms. Garnica said the card can be reloaded in e-Plus vending machines that will be placed in all SM malls nationwide. She added that a partnership with BDO is also in the works to allow e-Plus cardholders to reload using the bank’s ATM machines. “It (e-Plus) is envisioned to further brand out to include other applications in public transportation services, toll way access and remittance,” she told reporters. “Included in the e-Plus Tap to Pay development road map is NFC (near-field communication) technology, which allows the wallet to be in the mobile phone,” she added. Mr. Tejerero said the e-Plus card can be used even to pay for tickets to the Light Rail Transit 1 and 2, as well as the Metro Rail Transit 3, if the SM Group wins in the bidding for the automatic fare collection system for Metro Manila’s elevated railway network. The SM Group was among the nine groups that were qualified to bid for the P1.7-billion government project. Mr. Tejerero said the e-Plus card currently has 183,000 cardholders. SM aims to have a million cardholders by next year. Meanwhile, SM IMAX has joined forces with leading wireless services provider Smart Communications to come up with The Smart Infinity My IMAX Card. The Smart Infinity My IMAX Card is a co-branded version of the SM e-Plus card exclusive to Smart Infinity premium postpaid subscribers. Designed to give Smart Infinity subscribers exclusive access to what they say is “the world’s most immersive movie experience,” the Smart Infinity My IMAX Card is a reloadable card powered by SM Cinema’s e-Plus system. The system allows Smart Infinity My IMAX Card users to load the card to prepay for movie tickets at all SM IMAX theaters, allowing them to avoid long lines when entering the cinema. The card also offers special perks, because all Smart Infinity My IMAX Card users receive a set of popcorn and drink every time they reload their card at the ticket booth. “Additionally, each use of the Smart Infinity My IMAX Card at any SM Cinema as a ticket to the world’s biggest blockbuster films, earns a Smart Infinity subscriber e-Plus points,” Smart Infinity Department Head Julie Carceller told reporters last week. “More points may be earned when the card is used at any IMAX Theater and Director’s Club cinemas nationwide. These points may be exchanged later on for premium items and other privileges,” she added.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 06:55:27 +0000