CINCINNATI -- Grocery giant Kroger is dialing in to students at the University of Cincinnati, taking part in a mobile-payment program targeting the campus and surrounding area.
The program, announced last week, is in partnership with the university, Cincinnati Bell and Boulder, Colo.-based Mocapay, a mobile-payment provider. At participating stores on campus and in the Short Vine, Uptown and Ludlow Clifton business districts, students use their cell phones to pay for merchandise, starting with an initial phone "text" to Mocapay. The payment provider [image-nocss] then sends the customer a four-digit code, which is valid for 15 minutes. He or she tells the cashier that number, which frees up funds in the customer's electronic account.
"We are delighted to be partnering with pillars of our community such as Kroger and Cincinnati Belland a new partner in Mocapayto further differentiate and distinguish the quality of student life and services at the University of Cincinnati," said Fred Siff, vice president and CIO for the university.
The program, powered by Mocapay and Cincinnati Bell and sponsored by The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, involves local retailers, inclusive of Kroger locations in Queen City Center and University Plaza (which will begin accepting mobile payments in early 2008).
"Mocapay provides students with a safe, easy alternative to the hassles of credit cards, debit cards, cash and checkbooks," said Rod Stambaugh, founder and CEO of Mocapay. Executives with the payment provider also noted the added benefit to retailers of avoiding fees from major credit-card issuers, a concern prevalent across many retail channels.
The wireless-payment project is an adjunct to the Cincinnati-based phone company's current University of Cincinnati program called "UC Mobile." This program provides customers with a wireless network, school-branded handsets and what officials described as "a unified set of communication tools." With a UC Mobile phone, customers can connect directly to campus public safety; locate university shuttle routes and estimated arrival times; receive text updates of course changes, class cancellations or other announcements; and find contact information for current students and faculty members.
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