Loblaws-owned PC Financial, whose “personal banking services are provided by the direct banking division of CIBC,” has partnered with TD Canada Trust and announced Ugo. This initiative is being dubbed “Canada’s First Open Mobile Wallet.”
Ugo combines “multiple payment and loyalty programs in one convenient and secure mobile solution.” The goal is for this application to replace cards from a physical wallet with a “simple and secure mobile payment method.” Loblaws is the first retail partner, and they’ll also bring its PC Plus loyalty program into the wallet.
To use Ugo, which is expected to be in market spring of 2014, you’ll have to have a TD Visa or a President’s Choice Financial MasterCard, plus input your PC Plus account into the app. Ugo hooks onto the heavily used Visa payWave and MasterCard Paypass system and all users have to do is simply tap the terminal and their payment is completed, plus points are automatically loaded. Users will also have the ability to redeem their points and pay for items via the app.
Ugo works with any NFC-enabled Blackberry or Android device — no word on Windows Phone or iPhones — but “additional platforms [are] planned for future releases.”
In addition, Ugo isn’t solely focussed on being a Loblaws/PC only offering and desires to have the program rollout to other major retail partners and include deeper integration with debit cards, gift cards, and other loyalty programs.
Source: CNW
