MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Emerge Mobile of South Africa Announces “Edge” Cashless Payment Service

Emerge Mobile, a South African mobile service company, has announced the commercial launch of its “Edge” mobile point-of-sale (MPOS) device, which can be plugged into a mobile phone to allow a retailer to accept credit and debit card transactions [1]. The payment platform will be offered through iKhokha, a financial services firm owned by Emerge Mobile, and is targeted toward small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The device costs approximately ZAR 1,000 (USD 94) to purchase, and Emerge Mobile will charge a fee of 2.75 percent on all transactions with no monthly fees.

According to a statement attributed to Mr Matt Putnam, the managing director of Emerge Mobile, “this commercial launch is a realisation of Emerge Mobile’s vision to create an MPOS solution that will improve the lives of countless SMEs in South Africa” [2].

Emerge Mobile was founded in 2012 with investment from Johannesburg-based Capital Eye Investments and partners with wiGroup, a mobile payment platform technology provider [1]. Financial information for the company is unavailable.

By Benjamin Krupp, Research Associate

About Emerge Mobile

Emerge Mobile was founded in South Africa by Clive Putnam, Matt Putnam and Ramsay Daly in 2012 with investment from Johannesburg-based Capital Eye Investments. The company partners with wiGroup, a mobile payment platform technology provider. Financial information on Emerge is unavailable.

Sources and Additional Resources

[1] Emerge Mobile: Emerge Mobile’s MPOS Solution Achieves PCI-PTS Certification

[2] Human IPO: SA’s Emerge Mobile Launches MPOS Solution

MicroCapital, March 6, 2014: Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), MobiPay to launch “MTC Money” in Namibia

MicroCapital, November 19, 2013: JP Morgan Chase “Catalyst for Growth” Reports Improved performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 9SMEs) in South Africa

MicroCapital, December 10, 2012: Globe telecom of the Philippines to Expand GCash Mobile Service to Point of Sale (POS)

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Emerge Mobile

Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/

Similar Posts: