As a result, Zoompass users in Canada can send funds directly from their mobile wallets. Moreover, recipients can pick up their funds in cash at over 380,000 Western Union agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In addition, Zoompass members can send mobile-to-mobile transactions to subscribers of mobile phone companies with whom Western Union has launched the Mobile Money Transfer service, such as Globe Telecom and Smart Communications in the Philippines.
According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), there are approximately 23 million mobile subscribers in Canada and roughly 75 percent of Canadian households have access to a mobile phone. In addition, according to a survey conducted in Canada by Western Union in April 2010, 48 percent of international money-transfer senders said they were likely to sign up for mobile transaction services whereas 17 percent of respondents claimed they would definitely use mobile money-transfer services. Many global migrants living in Canada send money home to countries like the Philippines, Jamaica, the US and India.
Western Union’s Mobile Money Transfer service is currently available in 25 countries, allowing users to visit a participating Western Union agent location and send funds directly to the mobile wallet of Smart Communications and Globe Telecom subscribers in the Philippines. In addition, consumers can visit select Western Union Agent locations in the UK to send money directly to Safaricom M-PESA subscribers in Kenya. Moreover, in Malaysia, Maxis M-Money users can now send funds directly from their mobile handsets for payout at any participating Western Union agent location worldwide, and, if available, to other mobile wallets.
Western Union’s functionality is currently available online, via mobile browser and within the Zoompass app for BlackBerry devices. The Zoompass app for iPhone and Android devices is expected to follow by the end of 2010.
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