The Barclays Pingit mobile app has been released in the UK for iOS, Android and BlackBerry users. It enables monetary transactions through handsets by simply using the mobile phone number of the receiver.
Currently rolled out in the UK, the banking and financial services company asserts this to be the first service in Europe which permits person-to-person sending and receiving of money by utilizing mobile phone numbers. Although the software has been released for smartphone only, feature phone users can also register to receive payments. Along with this, all current account customers in banks across the UK are eligible to only accept currency via this service.
“Barclays Pingit could revolutionise the way people send and receive money. For friends splitting the cost of dinner, repaying a borrowed £10 or people sending money to a son or daughter at university, it’s free, quick, convenient, secure, and easy to use. You can send and receive money in seconds, without having to enter account details,” commented Antony Jenkins, Chief Executive, Barclays Retail and Business Banking.
“We’re committed to making customers’ lives much easier, giving them more choice in how they manage their money, and Barclays Pingit absolutely does that. But it is not just Barclays customers who benefit as it’s available to current account customers of all the other UK banks too. I’m sure we’ll soon be wondering what we did before it,” added Jetkins.
After downloading the app from respective sources, users will require to link it to their Barclays current account as well as their mobile numbers. While sending money, they will require specifying the number of the receiver, and can type in an optional message along with it. The app allows a maximum payment of £300 a day to its customers.
The Barclays Pingit app can be downloaded free of cost in the UK via the Android Market, BlackBerry App World and iTunes.