Pesapal has launched a new app dubbed Pesapal Mobile to enable users to buy airtime, pay bills, book flights and holidays, purchase event tickets and pay for school fees in a move that will eat into Cellulant‘s lunch.
The app aggregates payments for essential and leisure services securely via Mpesa, Visa and Mastercard. Consumers will be able to save their card details, securely crediting all their payments on the app to their bank-issued debit and credit cards. Those opting to use Mpesa can also save their numbers and pay seamlessly for free.
“Today we’re bringing the services Kenyans use on a daily basis closer, and making it easier for them to access. This app goes beyond payments, it taps into the lifestyles of local consumers by giving them access to experiences around food, entertainment and travel ” said Pesapal CEO, Mark Mwongela.
Services available on the app include bill payments for Jamii Telcom (Faiba), DStv, GOtv and Zuku. Airtime purchase is available for Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom with consumers also able to settle their Airtel and Telkom post-paid bills on the go. The app can also be used to pay all local and international flights, hotels and restaurants as well as school fees to universities and colleges.
Currently, Pesapal has partnered with Ticketsasa for events, flights and holidays and Yum for food delivery with plans to include insurance and online shopping partners as more service providers are integrated onto the app.
Recently, Pesapal integrated Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, FitBit Pay and Google Pay payments on its new tap-and-go, contact-less Sabi M010 terminals in a to allow businesses across East Africa to conveniently accept digital wallet payments.
Mula by Cellulant allows users to pay for their utility bills online, purchase airtime and pay for TV subscription and other services from the app. Users can also save their debit and credit card details to pay for goods online and at the till. Mula also allows users to use their mobile wallets and bank to pay via its app. The launch of Pesapal Mobile will mean more direct competition to Cellulant. Pesapal has been in the payments sector for long and has most of the clients in the market who might find it easier to switch to the new app with less struggle.
