Vimpelcom launches own mobile electronic payment service

2011-06-27



Vimpelcom, one of the biggest telecommunication companies in Russia, together with Alfa-Bank, launched its own universal payment system for mobile and electronic commerce. The service is operated under the RURU brand and allows for remote payments using mobile technologies and e-commerce, electronic money and banking cards. In the near future, the service is to be near field communication (NFC) capable.

RURU allows for various types of payments, ranging from telecommunication services like mobile phone, internet or CaTV, to utilities, rail or air tickets or retail goods. Commission ranges from 0-5.95%, depending on the service.

According to Victor Markelov, the director of product and business development at Vimpelcom, every month the operator makes approximately two million transactions from the mobile accounts of its subscribers using payment systems of other operators. It is expected that RURU will make Vimpelcom one of the strongest players on the mobile payment services market in Russia.

An own mobile payment service, MTS Pay, is already operated by mobile operator MTS, while Megafon plans to launch its payment system before the end of 2011.