Ukash
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | Ukash |
| Parent | Smart Voucher |
| Website | www.ukash.com |
Ukash is a brand of SmartVoucher Ltd and was created in 2005 to provide online cash-payment services.[1] Established in 2001 under the holding company Smart Voucher Ltd, Ukash® has grown to more than 420,000 physical points of purchase, it is available in more than 50 countries around the world in 6 continents and 14 currencies, through payment terminals in retail outlets across Europe, South Africa, South America, Canada and Australia and it is also issued online from the company’s website.[2] Ukash is a trading name of Smart Voucher Ltd.[3]
The Ukash brand began as Smart Voucher Ltd in Bollington, Macclesfield in 2001. Ukash’s IT department and the holding company Smart Voucher Ltd are still based in Bollington, Macclesfield, with a second office in central London. David Hunter became Chief Executive of Ukash in 2011 and is based in the London office.
Ukash® is regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) and operates as one of only a small number of Electronic Money Institutions, a status that allows a single maximum online cash payment transaction of up to £500/€750.[4]
South African-based Blue Label Telecoms Group became a strategic partner of Ukash in September 2008. Blue Label Group is a distributor of prepaid secure electronic tokens of value and transactional services within emerging and developing economies and has worked with Microsoft Corporation since 2007.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Products
Ukash is the name of a 19 digit voucher given to customers in exchange for cash via shops or online, from bank accounts and e-wallets.[6] Ukash is an e-money network.[7] Cash in amounts up to £500/€750 can be swapped for a 19-digit Ukash voucher in payment terminals and retail outlets. It is also available online, from bank accounts and e-wallets. A 19-digit Ukash voucher can be spent online.[4]
[edit] Ukash Neo
Ukash Neo is a prepaid MasterCard®, launched in 2010 in the UK and Germany which allows consumers to shop online using cash anywhere that accepts Mastercard. Consumers can exchange cash for a Ukash voucher to purchase Ukash Neo at UkashNeo.com. The 19-digit Ukash voucher will be converted into a virtual MasterCard® with a number, expiry date and security code to be used online.[8]
[edit] UkashOut
The UkashOut Prepaid MasterCard®, launched in June 2011, is a physical card that can be used wherever you see the MasterCard® logo worldwide. Consumers can exchange cash for a Ukash voucher to load value onto the UkashOut Prepaid MasterCard® Consumers can also use the prepaid, reloadable card to get cash out from any ATM with the MasterCard® logo.
[edit] Ukash Air
Ukash air is a way to add airtime credit to prepaid mobiles abroad. Consumers can send call credit to mobile phones in other countries.[9]
[edit] Ukash Payout
Ukash PayOut is a product for the gaming and gambling industry which allows operators to pay out to customers using cash, with a Ukash voucher instantly.[10][11]
[edit] Watch2Pay
In December 2011, Ukash, became a method for reloading cash onto the UK’s first ever prepaid contactless wristwatch. Watch2Pay launched on Monday 29 November 2011 as a result of a collaboration between watch manufacturer LAKS and issuer Vincento. It delivers MasterCard® PayPass™ contactless technology through a wristwatch for the first time in this market, allowing consumers to simply ‘Tap & Go™’ to make fast, secure payments for up to £15 within seconds.
The new wristwatch will enable consumers to ‘Tap & Go’ against a contactless reader at over 70,000 retailers throughout the UK, removing the need to enter a PIN. Using the reloadable MasterCard® card provided, consumers will have the option to load cash onto their wristwatch using Ukash.
[edit] Awards
On April 21, 2011 it was announced that Ukash was awarded a Queen's Awards for Enterprise in the International Trade category. The Queen’s Awards is the highest official UK award for British businesses. The prestigious award recognises UK businesses that have achieved substantial growth in overseas earnings and outstanding levels of commercial success. Ukash, operating under the holding name of Smart Voucher, was awarded as a result of its geographical and financial growth.[12][13]
In September 2011, Ukash made it to number 23 in the 11th Tech Track 100 league table, published in The Sunday Times. This league table ranks the top 100 fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. Ukash were awarded the number 23 spot for the rapid revenue growth experienced over the past five years due to overseas expansion.[14]
The company was nominated in 2010 for the Billing Company of the Year (Alternative) award at the XBIZ Award.[15]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Ukash delivers that cashless society we've all heard about". The Star (South Africa). February 23, 2009. http://www.lexisnexis.com.remote.slc.edu/lnacui2api/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T9932842106&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T9932842109&cisb=22_T9932842108&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&selRCNodeID=54&nodeStateId=411en_US,1&docsInCategory=30&csi=312452&docNo=1.
- ^ "Ukash Partners With Shoprite, Making Vouchers Available In 560 Stores Throughout South Africa". The Economy News. April 7, 2010. http://www.economy-news.co.uk/ukash-partners-with-shoprite-making-vouchers-available-in-560-stores-throughout-south-africa-07201004.html.
- ^ "Vyke and Ukash Partnership Makes VoIP Calling Even Easier". IMRG. 18 August 2010. http://www.imrg.org/8025741F0065E9B8/(httpPressReleases)/4EFD6BADC32A9C0C80257783004AFED3?OpenDocument. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ a b Tim Heming (December 2, 2008). "Prepay your way to safe shopping". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/money/1996257/Prepay-your-way-to-safe-shopping.html. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Ukash launches in South Africa". 27 November 2008. http://www.finextra.com/news/fullstory.aspx?newsitemid=19352. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ CardLine (October 5, 2009). "Ukash Makes Move Into South America". American Banker. http://www.lexisnexis.com.remote.slc.edu/lnacui2api/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T9932842106&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T9932842109&cisb=22_T9932842108&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&selRCNodeID=54&nodeStateId=411en_US,1&docsInCategory=30&csi=303174&docNo=5.
- ^ "Ukash comes to Mexico". iGaming Business. http://www.igamingbusiness.com/content/ukash-comes-mexico. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ Paul Skeldon (27 April 2010). "Ukash launches virtual MasterCard that allows non-credit card holders to shop online". Internet Retailing. http://www.internetretailing.net/2010/04/ukash-launches-virtual-mastercard-that-allows-non-credit-card-holders-to-shop-online/. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Ukash air refueling offers telephone service worldwide". toumai.es. August 13, 2010. http://www.toumai.es/noticias/emprendedores/217/4676-ukash-air-brinda-el-servicio-de-envio-de-credito-telefonico-en-todo-el-mundo. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Ukash launches voucher for gaming industry". VRL Financial News. http://www.vrl-financial-news.com/cards--payments/electronic-payments-intl/issues/epi-2010/epi-277/ukash-launches-voucher-for-ga.aspx?page=17231. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "News in brief: Harry Reid; Ontario Lottery; Atlantic City; Inspired Gaming.". eGaming Review. August 9, 2010. http://www.egrmagazine.com/news/581407/news-in-brief-harry-reid-ontario-lottery-atlantic-city-inspired-gaming.thtml. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Ukash Wins Queen's Award for Enterprise for Outstanding Achievement in International Trade". UK Business Online. http://www.ukbusinessonline.co.uk/press-releases/banking-and-finance-news/18863-ukash-wins-queens-award-for-enterprise-for-outstanding-achievement-in-international-trade. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "Ukash wins Queens Award". Ukash Business News. Thursday, 21 April 2011. https://www.ukash.com/business/queens-award.aspx. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "Tech Track 100". Ukash.com. 2011-04-21. http://www.ukash.com/business/press-and-media/news/rapidly-growing-online-payments-business-ukash-adds-to-recent-success-with-a-place-on-sunday-times-microsoft-tech-track-100.aspx. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
- ^ XBIZ Announces Finalist Nominees for 2010 XBIZ Awards, XBIZ, Wednesday, Dec 16, 2009
