Mastercard and KaiOS partner to simplify acceptance African SMEs

By Gloria Methri

KaiOS, the operating system for smart feature phones, has partnered with Mastercard to integrate a range of digital payment solutions. Beginning in Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria, Mastercard and KaiOS will deliver affordable payment acceptance devices and stimulate the growth of a more inclusive, connected global economy.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)—especially in developing markets—still struggle to adopt digital payments due to the expenses linked to traditional payment acceptance terminals and technical implementation challenges. This, in turn, makes it harder for businesses to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and limits inclusive growth.

KaiOS and Mastercard are partnering to help millions of SMEs globally accept digital payments using KaiOS devices. Even the smallest businesses will soon be able to use their low-cost devices to accept payments via Mastercard QR Pay by Link, with Tap & Go contactless payments technology.

Signing up is simple. Business owners can use their KaiOS-powered phones to enrol. After entering their registered credentials and authenticating via a one-time password, SMEs can then access and immediately use a variety of digital payment options.

Jorn Lambert, chief product officer at Mastercard, said, “Whether it’s a micro-merchant in Cote d’Ivoire to an enterprise in Indonesia, our goal is to make it as easy for merchants to accept digital payments as it is for consumers to make them. We are looking forward to working closely with KaiOS to bring the best of our technology, scale, and expertise together to drive growth for emerging markets around the world.”

Sebastien Codeville, chief executive officer of KaiOS Technologies, said, “By bringing Mastercard’s secure payment technology to affordable internet phones running KaiOS, we are unlocking new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, allowing them to participate in modern commerce more fully. This innovation brings down the barriers and enables an affordable consumer device to become a powerful business tool.”

Today, KaiOS works with all major carriers, mobile network operators, and mobile phone manufacturers in emerging regions, with plans to expand to include acquiring banks, payment facilitators, FinTechs and more. Previously, KaiOS joined Mastercard’s start-up engagement program, Start Path, to embed a range of payment solutions to foster digital inclusion.

As part of this extended collaboration, Mastercard and KaiOS will focus on African markets first, collaborating with partners like Touch and Pay Technologies (TAP) and Wizzit to extend access to in-market merchants.