Retail in Asia

In Trends

HK’s Octopus partners with Alipay, Taobao for NFC online payment service

Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) is partnering with Alipay and Taobao Marketplace for an Near Field Communication (NFC) online payment service.

The Octopus Online Payment Service (OOP) is the first mobile payment solution for contactless stored value smartcard users with NFC-enabled mobile devices.

With the new service, Octopus users can shop on Taobao.com simply by downloading the latest version of the "Octopus" App to their NFC-enabled mobile devices and then completing a simple one-time registration of the Octopus that will be used for the OOP.

The collaboration aims to meet the rapid global growth in online shopping and the widespread applications of NFC technology. It synergizes Octopus’ extensive coverage and applications in Hong Kong; Alipay’s secure, convenient payment technology and Taobao Marketplace’s rising popularity among local customers.

As a tailor-made, online payment choice for Hong Kong consumers, the OOP is expected to further drive the development of Hong Kong’s mobile payment market.

Sunny Cheung, CEO of Octopus Cards Limited (center) and Liang Minjun, Deputy General Manager, International Business at Alipay (first left) and Daphne Lee, Director of International Business at Taobao Marketplace, at the launch ceremony of the Octopus Online Payment Service.