The race for mobile payments market share in Europe is well and truly on, with Payleven rolling out its Android app in Italy, Poland and the UK. Previously it had only been available in Germany. The move comes on the same day that one of the Rocket Internet-backed startup’s rivals, SumUp, announced expansion to France, Belgium and Portugal.
The two Berlin-based companies (Payleven is jointly based in London) are only part of an emerging and fascinating space which in Europe can also count iZettle and Adyen as major players. Like Square in the US, all four provide a card reader which can be plugged into a smartphone or tablet, allowing mobile point of sale (MPOS) payments.
As with its iOS app, Payleven’s Android version gives merchants an alternative to having to fork out for a traditional card reader – a charge of 2.75 percent is levied on payments. The platform supports a range of the most popular Android devices like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, S2 and S3 and the HTC One. Cards can currently be processed using Swipe and Sign, with Chip&PIN to follow.
Ian Marsh, co-founder and CEO of Payleven UK, said it was important for the company to expand on a platform which account for 70 percent of smartphone sales around the world, and added: “The way people pay is changing rapidly – Europe is at the moment on the cusp of a mobile payment revolution.”
He also promised that Payleven would launch its “best in class mobile Chip&PIN solution” early next year.
Earlier this month, the startup announced a deal with telco giant Telefónica Germany to ship its devices to selected O2 stores across Germany. It has entered into a partnership with the Taxiverband Berlin to help solve the problem of cashless cab journeys.