Articles: General Articles

Pocit and eDreams.co.za team up to offer consumers a simpler, more convenient and more secure online shopping experience

South Africans can now shop online for thousands of goods to their hearts’ content, with the comfort of secure transactions – and without the need to disclose their credit card details – or even have a credit card! This is thanks to a partnership between South Africa’s fastest growing cellphone payment system, Pocit (www.pocit.co.za), and the country’s online megastore, www.edreams.co.za.

The partnership provides registered Pocit users with access to thousands of products in eDreams’ catalogues. Popular online purchases include products like gaming products, DVDs, electronic gadgets like digital cameras, digital photo frames and GPS systems, home and garden products and even large kitchen appliances. Once users have registered with Pocit, they can either link their credit card(s) and/bank account(s) to their Pocit profiles and use them as payment instruments when making a purchase or paying a bill Registered Pocit users will also automatically have a Pocit Money store (Pocit’s virtual value store that allows for real-time payments) from which they can pay if they do not have access to a credit card, or simply prefer not to use one.

Security of paramount importance
According to Pocit’s MD, David Reynders, one of Pocit’s main attractions is its security. “We have invested heavily in the security of our cellphone payments system.” Pocit allows users to pay and get paid securely, conveniently and easily. Users can pay individuals, merchants and accounts. They only have to register their credit card or bank account details once. Having done this, there is no need to reveal banking or credit card details to those being paid.

Says Reynders: “Pocit is really secure. Users’ banking details are never stored on their cellphones and all transactions between the user‘s cellphone and Pocit are encrypted. Unlike some cellphone-based financial services that just use a PIN number and can be operated from any cellphone, Pocit uses both your SIM card and your specific handset to verify your identify.”

In addition to secure and convenient eDreams purchases, Pocit provides its users with the ability to pay:
• any individual (person to person payments) knowing only their cellphone number
• pre-loaded clothing retailers
• key municipalities (rates and taxes)
• traffic fines in partnership with Payfine
• prepaid airtime.

eDreams MD, Zane Zietsman, echoes Reynders’ sentiments: “We want to offer our customers as many payment options as possible and Pocit provides the kind of secure payment option that makes the online buying decision easier. Any retailer who signs up with eDreams as a merchant will also, by default, have the ability to receive payments via Pocit.”

eDreams is also offering five consumers who purchase items from its Website using Pocit as their payment option between December 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010, with the opportunity to win the value of their purchases back in cash.

About eDreams.co.za
At eDreams.co.za, we believe in the success of the e-tail trilogy: service excellence, product range and consumer convenience. Three essential ingredients that have moulded the eDreams.co.za brand into a premier online shopping destination. eDreams.co.za provides a one-stop online shopping solution that makes business and lifestyle sense. So why deal with congested shopping malls, traffic, car guards and queues? Simply visit www.edreams.co.za and browse for thousands of products from the world’s biggest brands and have it delivered to your door all from the convenience of your home or office.

About Pocit
Pocit is a secure, cost-effective and easy-to-use cellphone payments system that allows individuals and merchants to make and receive payments, knowing only the other party’s cellphone number. Pocit also provides individuals with the ability to pay traffic fines, utility bills and retail accounts. Payments can be made from credit cards, bank accounts or Pocit Money, Pocit’s virtual money store. Pocit is bank- and cellphone network-independent, and is registered as a payer service provider with The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA). Pocit’s systems are encrypted, and are more secure than most standard payment methods. Visit www.pocit.mobi, www.pocit.co.za or call 08600 76248 during office hours for more details.