PayRange Inc., creator of the world’s simplest mobile payment solution for machines, announced in a press release that it has signed an agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company (SMCC) to expand its technology to millions of Japanese vending machines.
While Japan has among the most advanced vending machine markets in the world that are available on virtually every street corner in the cities, almost none take credit or debit cards. Some machines accept prepaid transit cards, but most are cash and coin only.
“It has been very expensive to bring cashless solutions to this vending market. The PayRange solution is unique in that it requires no networking infrastructure allowing easy upgrade of the existing fleet of machines,” stated SMCC. “We’re particularly eager to offer solutions to vending merchants that will allow them to upgrade their machines ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when millions of visitors and athletes will visit. We want them to be able to easily use the vending machines.”
The PayRange solution will also be available on Japanese laundry and amusement machines. Founded in 2013, the company provides operators and consumers with the simplest, most accessible mobile payment solution for vending, amusement, laundry and more.
Consumers download the free mobile app and can use all major cards, Apple Pay and Android Pay at various machines with ease. PayRange-enabled machines can be found across the 50 United States and throughout Canada.
“Partnering with SMCC is an exciting opportunity for PayRange,” stated Paresh Patel, founder and CEO of PayRange. “The Japanese vending is large but also complicated. SMCC’s leadership, reputation and experience is what we sought to ensure success of our entry into the market.”