Samsung Electronics H.K. Co. Ltd. and Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) today announced the exclusive launch of the first "Smart Octopus" in Samsung Pay, a joint effort to offer the most comprehensive mobile wallet service supporting Octopus functionality.
Starting from 9a.m. on 14 December, 2017, Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay will enable NFC payment at all Octopus acceptance points, covering public transport as well as over 21,000 retail outlets, online shopping, recreational facilities, vending machines, self-service kiosks1; plus the use of parking and access control facilities at residential or commercial premises. It will make mobile payment more comprehensive than ever with unrivalled convenience in Hong Kong people's everyday lives, spurring progress towards becoming a cashless smart city.
"Besides leading the smartphone market in Hong Kong, Samsung has always strived to bring great convenience to users' daily lives through innovative technologies. Our partnership with OCL is a perfect manifestation of this commitment," said Yiyin Zhao, Vice President and Head of IT and Mobile Communication Business for Samsung Electronics H.K. Co. Ltd. "Together with Octopus, the go-to payment method for most transportation operators and retail stores, Samsung hopes to bring a revolutionary smart mobile payment service to Hong Kong."
Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer of OCL said, "Our partnership with Samsung represents a significant milestone for Octopus to introduce NFC payment via smartphones, offering our customers a fast, simple and seamless over-the-air mobile payment solution. Through being issued with a new Smart Octopus or converting an existing On-Loan Octopus, users will be able to pay and travel with their smartphones. New user-friendly features like instant transaction notification and in-app top-up function will add extra peace of mind and ease to customers. We believe Smart Octopus will become the new norm to smartphone users seeking greater convenience while carrying less. We are thrilled to have Samsung support us in making Smart Octopus possible, in turn bringing more values to customers."