Vodafone UK customers can top up their smartphones by using QR tags on posters or in magazines.
The operator is using Powa Technologies’ mobile commerce platform PowaTag. Customers can scan special tags with an PowaTag app on their smartphone to confirm the value of their top up.
Vodafone said customers only need to enter their card details once and they receive email confirmations once they have successfully topped up.
Among the retailers that will have the PowaTags in store are Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Argos. In total, consumers will be able to top up their phones by this method in more than 500 stores.
Cindy Rose, Consumer Director at Vodafone UK, said: “Our customers have told us they wanted a tool that allowed them to Top Up swiftly at their leisure at a time which is convenient and which suits their schedule. Our Pay As You Go plans offer great value and which are affordable and flexible: with this TopUp addition we are making Vodafone the network our customers can depend on. ”
Dan Wagner, CEO and Founder of Powa Technologies, added: “PowaTag allows people to top up their phones virtually anywhere at any time and with 46 million people expected to use smartphones by 2018 in the UK, this is perfect timing for us to team up with Vodafone.”
Late last year, Vodafone launched its SmartPass payments service in the UK. Customers can make payments of up to £20 by using their NFC-enabled smartphone.