Press Release 11 December 2017
Samsung Teams Up with Octopus to Launch Exclusively the First “Smart Octopus” in Samsung Pay
All-in-one Mobile Wallet Brings Revolutionary Cashless Payment to Hong Kong
Hong Kong – December 11, 2017 – 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."
All-in-one Mobile Wallet Enables Convenient Payment and Beyond
As an all-in-one mobile wallet, Samsung Pay spans credit, debit and membership cards. With both Near Field Communication (NFC) as well as with Samsung's proprietary Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology, also the highly secured iris authentication or fingerprint and PIN code verification; users can use Samsung Pay at almost all POS machines in Hong Kong. Now, together with Smart Octopus, Samsung Pay is the most convenient and comprehensive all-in-one mobile wallet in Hong Kong with the first addition of Smart Octopus, enabling people to commute as if using a regular Octopus card. Besides transportation, the service is also applicable to merchants accepting Octopus payment and can be used without restriction with any mobile operator.
Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay is well beyond retail and public transport payment. It also serves as access control for commercial or residential premises. For drivers, it supports Octopus payment for car parks, on-street parking and Government tolled tunnels, delivering the same seamlessness as an Octopus card.
Extraordinary User Experience
Using Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay allows users to enjoy payment as swiftly as with an Octopus card. The "Always-on" feature makes the payment smoother and easier, supporting payment even in screen-off mode. Even if the phone is in low power mode, or turned off, the Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay can be continued to be used for several times2.
After each transaction, a push notification pops up (and the device will vibrate if the devices is on normal or vibrate profile) from Samsung Pay for convenient review on transaction details. Users can easily review their latest 40 transactions in Samsung Pay or via Octopus App3. Moreover, the Automatic Add Value Service4 (AAVS) settings and Octopus Reward$5 balance will be displayed, enabling users to conveniently view their account details.
Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay offers the same features found within Octopus App, including transfer money with O! ePay, pay at online shops6 that accept Octopus, activate AAVS service, and collect incentives and rebates. To activate these features, users must authenticate using their iris, fingerprint or Samsung Pay PIN.
More Than an Ordinary Mobile Wallet
For the first time in the market, users can enjoy the convenience of adding value7 on demand to Smart Octopus via their credit cards and debit cards enrolled in Samsung Pay, for any amount between HK$300 and HK$1,000. There are preset options of HK$300, HK$500, HK$700 or HK$800, to make value-adding even easier. Users can also add value to their Smart Octopus like an Octopus card with cash at designated service providers or apply for Automatic Add Value Service (AAVS).
Adding a Smart Octopus to Samsung Pay
Users can add a Smart Octopus to Samsung Pay by provisioning it directly in Samsung Pay anytime and anywhere via their enrolled credit cards (provided that the user has a data connection); or users can transfer a physical Anonymous On-Loan Adult or Elder Octopus to Smart Octopus over-the-air without the need to visit a physical shop. The remaining value of the original Octopus, HK$50 deposit, AAVS and most of the registered services and offers, such as Octopus Rewards, building access, MTR concessionary fares and services, can also be transferred to Smart Octopus8 online.
Extension of Find My Mobile
Samsung's Find My Mobile function is also available on Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay. The Find My Mobile feature ensures users can enjoy a carefree payment experience, without the worry of losing data and personal information. If users lose a Samsung device, the user, provided the device has a data connection, can suspend or wipe their device - both of which will disable the Smart Octopus. If a user finds their suspended device, they can reactivate the device, which will also reactivate the Smart Octopus. However, if the user has wiped their device, their Smart Octopus will become invalid and user is required to re-apply for a new one. If the user has provided their name and mobile number to Octopus Card Limited at provision for their Smart Octopus, they can apply for a refund of the Smart Octopus online.
Supported Devices and Octopus
The Samsung Galaxy smartphones that support Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay include Galaxy Note8, S8+ and S8, with other compatible Samsung devices coming soon. Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay can be transferred between the compatible Samsung Galaxy devices. Users can back up and delete Smart Octopus from the original device and restore in the new one.
For now, all On-Loan Adult and Elder Octopus users can transfer physical Octopus to Smart Octopus, or add a new Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay, and be the very first to enjoy a truly cashless experience.
Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay Welcome Offers
Users who have successfully added a Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay on Galaxy Note8, S8 or S8+ from commencement of the promotion to 21 January 2018 will be rewarded with an HK$80 Octopus Top-up Value9.
Additionally, users, in the same period, who use Samsung Pay enrolled credit cards to add value to Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay will obtain a rebate of the 2.5% Add Value Service Fee10 (Up to a rebate of HK$25).
Refundable HK$50 Deposit and Convenience Limit of HK$50
A refundable HK$50 deposit is applicable to Smart Octopus which also carries a convenience limit of HK$50. This critical feature, especially for public transportation, avoids inconvenience and rejection of service in case of insufficient remaining value during payment. Also, same as other On-Loan Adult Octopus card that are issued after 1 October 2017, an "Inactive Smart Octopus Administrative Fee"11 is applicable to Smart Octopus – a HK$15 fee will be charged annually if it has not had any add value or payment transactions for three years and has, as such, become an "Inactive Smart Octopus".
Participating Issuers in Samsung Pay
Organizations that support Samsung Pay include Payment Technology Companies American Express, Mastercard and Visa, and now 8 card issuers, including American Express, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Citibank, Dah Sing Bank, DBS Bank, Hang Seng Bank, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank.
All enrolled Visa and Mastercard cards in Samsung Pay are supported for adding value to Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay.
For more information about Samsung Pay, please visit http://www.samsung.com/hk_en/samsungpay. For immediate assistance, please contact the Samsung Pay service hotline: (852) 2121 9088.
1 Selected MTR Add Value Machines and Photocopiers do not accept irregular-shaped Octopus (including mobile phone).
2 When the phone runs out of battery, users can still use several times if they do not attempt to switch on the device forcefully.
3 To download separately.
4 To apply separately.
5 To apply separately.
6 For online merchants supporting Smart Octopus, please visit: http://www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/mobile-payment/online-payment/online-merchants/index.html
7 A 2.5% Add Value Service Fee is charged by OCL.
8 The following services cannot be transferred to Smart Octopus: hourly and monthly parking management, MTR Park and Ride Scheme, New World First Ferry Monthly / Holiday Return Ticket and Citybus / New World First Bus Day Pass. User can add a new Smart Octopus and re-register the services from service providers. Physical On-Loan Octopus will no longer be usable after transfer into Samsung Pay.
9 Only the first 66,000 users will be entitled to the offer. Users need to install Octopus App and register Smart Octopus in order to entitle the reward. For promotion details, please refer to www.samsung.com/hk/smartoctopus_welcomeoffer
10 Only the first 66,000 users will be entitled to the offer. Users need to install Octopus App and register Smart Octopus in order to entitle the reward. For promotion details, please refer to www.samsung.com/hk/smartoctopus_welcomeoffer
11 Please access the link for details of the fees and charges: http://www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/octopus-cards/proper-use/inactive-octopus/index.html
Photo Caption
Photo1: (From left) Yiyin Zhao, Vice President and Head of IT and Mobile Communication Business, Samsung Electronics HK Co. Ltd.; and Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer, Octopus Cards Limited, announced the launch of "Smart Octopus in Samsung Pay", a joint-effort to introduce the first and exclusive mobile wallet supporting Smart Octopus functionality. |
Photo 2: Sunny Cheung, Chief Executive Officer, Octopus Cards Limited said that the partnership with Samsung Pay represented a significant milestone for Octopus to introduce NFC payment via smart phones, offering customers a fast, simple and seamless over-the-air mobile payment solution. |
Photo 3: (From left) |
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