Mobile Payment is a novel feature that allows customers to pay for goods and services using their mobile phones in place of credit cards.
Tickets on public transportation in Tallinn and Tartu are routinely bought using Mobile Payment. The system can also be used for payments in shops and pubs and even when buying products from vending machines.
There are few different ways the mobile transaction is handled. Here is one typical example:
- The client dials the mobile payment service number, and enters the merchant's code and the amount of the payment or a product code.
- The payment system checks the funds in the client's bank account, and makes the withdrawal.
- The system sends an SMS to the merchant confirming the transaction.
- The bank transfers money to the merchant's account within three days, charging a service fee.
A sticker on the vendor's window will tell the customer whether mobile payments are accepted.
On buses and trams, the passenger dials a number to buy a ticket or a monthly pass. Because the ticket is tied to the passenger's state-issued ID code, any ticket controller who checks the passenger's ID Card (this is done using a mobile device) will instantly see that the ticket has been purchased.
