Press Release 7 August 2020

OCL Launches Octopus Mobile POS

Helping Small and Medium-sized Retail Merchants and Taxi Drivers Accept Cashless Payments During the Pandemic

(Hong Kong, 7 August 2020) Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) has launched the Octopus Mobile POS, enabling small and medium-sized retail merchants and taxi drivers to accept all forms of Octopus payments – including Octopus cards, Octopus on Apple Pay, Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay and Octopus O! ePay QR code. The new Octopus Mobile POS is especially timely during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it can provide merchants and customers with peace of mind in avoiding potential virus transmission.

Merchants using either Android or iOS mobile phones can download the Octopus App for Business, and upload the necessary documents via their mobile phones. The account can be activated within three working days upon application approval, after which they will receive the merchant kit including the Octopus Mobile POS. Upon pairing their mobile phones with the Octopus Mobile POS via the Bluetooth function, and turning on the “Cashier mode” of the Octopus App for Business, merchants can enter the transaction amount, which will be immediately displayed on the screen of the Octopus Mobile POS. Customers can just tap their Octopus onto the screen for payment.

In addition, merchants can check the transaction records as well as the account balance anytime, anywhere, and instantly transfer the account balance to their registered bank account via the Faster Payment Service (FPS), with no time and place restrictions. There is no set-up cost for the Octopus Mobile POS.

Plus, since neither the merchants nor customers have to handle cash during the whole payment process using the Octopus Mobile POS, it can help reduce the chance of virus transmission. “During the pandemic, many people have expressed the hope that small and medium-sized merchants, such as cha chaan teng (cafes), wet market stalls, and even taxis, can accept contactless payments,” said Mr. Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of OCL. “I believe the Octopus Mobile POS offers both merchants and customers a hygienic and convenient payment system. We will work together with Hong Kong people to minimise the virus transmission.”

To encourage merchants to use the Octopus Mobile POS, from now till 31 December 2020, all new merchants – including retailers and taxi drivers – who have successfully set up an account, can have the Bank Account Fund Transfer Fee waived for the first 6 months¹ and receive an Octopus Mobile POS (priced at HK$228) for free. Taxi drivers can enjoy additional welcome and usage rewards².

¹ Only one fund transfer instruction will be processed per day during the fee waiver period.

² From now till 31 December 2020, any taxi driver who has successfully set up an account will be entitled to a HK$150 welcome reward, plus a HK$2 usage reward per each taxi trip paid by either Octopus or O! ePay, subject to a maximum of HK$300 during the promotion period. For details, please refer to www.octopus.com.hk/ompos/promo

Photo Caption

The Octopus Mobile POS is designed for small and medium-sized retailers such as cha chaan teng.

The Octopus Mobile POS is very compact and can be placed at the cashier desk.

The Octopus Mobile POS can be placed on the left side of the taxi driver's seat enabling convenient payment by passengers.

Taxi installed with Octopus Mobile POS has a sticker on its windscreen for passengers' recognition.

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