1. Does SEMOPS work with all mobiles phones (old & new)?

The service can be accessed with most types of mobile handsets, from the most basic ones to the top of the line smartphones. The level and functionality of the service is not affected by the handset type, but obviously the appearance of the program, the ease of handling is very much influenced by the size of the screen, and the menu structure.

2. What technology is used? 

The service combines various technologies both in the modules and also in the communication infrastructure.

The various modules are either SIM card based applications or Java applets, or programs embedded in the operating systems of the handsets. The back end infrastructure – banking and data center functionality – is Java program.

3. What does a SEMOPS transaction cost?

The cost of the service for the end users is defined by the payment processors – banks, mobile operators – they receive the service from.

In general the cost of the service should be comparable with existing banking services, like fund transfer, money wire. This pricing policy will provide much more favorable rates to users than prevailing retail electronic payment services.

There may also be communication related expenses. In case of a SEMOPS transaction on the internet there is no additional communication cost, while for mobile payment the user may select the cheapest method which may be SMS, or data communication.

4. How fast is SEMOPS?

The service is real time. This means that depending on the transaction type, user modules and communication channels used – internet, SMS, GPRS- the transactions may be completed in less than 10 seconds.

5. What do I need in order to use SEMOPS?

Users – customers and merchants - receive the service from their own banks or mobile operators. They need to have a contract with the service provider, however this contract could also be processed electronically through the website of the bank. When the service is available customers can download a small midlet/program either from their banks or mobile operators, to their PC or mobile handset. With this short preparation customers are ready to make purchases or transfer money.

Merchants also need a software module that needs to be interfaced with the existing sales system. The integration is a simple task, implementation of three messages, in standard, predefined format.

6. Can I use multiple bank accounts with SEMOPS?

Yes, in SEMOPS both customers and merchants can select more than one payment processors and a number of accounts in each of them. To make the purchase process easier, more user friendly, there is always a default bank and a default account in each of the banks. This solution saves time when the payment is prepared, but still allows maximum flexibility for the user to define which of their accounts they want to debit and where they want to receive the transfer.

Accounts may be maintained with banks, mobile operators, but potentially also with other service providers as well.    

7. Why SEMOPS is better than existing solutions?

The SEMOPS payment service is the most complex, versatile solution. It allows electronic payment for most kind of online or off line transactions, irrespective of the value of the payment, the actors of the deal, and the location of the parties.

The service is also very secure, but still very simple. All sensitive information is protected by encrypting the messages using the public keys of the payment processors, while all important notifications are digitally signed by the payment processors to ensure validity and authenticity of the message.

8. How can I get the SEMOPS service?

The service is provided for the users by their own banks or mobile operators. This is a trusted relationship between the parties.

All communication is between the payment processors and their respective clients. Users need to sign up for the service at their payment processors. 

9. Do I have to sign up with SEMOPS?

The users are not in any relationship with SEMOPS. SEMOPS provides the service for the banks and mobile operators. Customers and merchants sign up for the service with their partner banks and/or mobile operators.

10. Where can I use SEMOPS?

The service, in its full implementation, can be used in any types of payment situation, be it electronic payment, POS purchase or a simple transfer of money to a friend or to another account. Electronic payments mean both mobile and internet transactions, while POS means traditional store sales or purchases made at vending machines. There are other special services that could be paid for with SEMOPS like parking payments, mobile top up, etc.

The geographic location should not be a barrier either, as both domestic and cross border payments can be processed even if conversion is required.

11. How secure is SEMOPS?

The service has multi layer security architecture.

Customers are in full control of the payment process they individually approve each and every transaction. They only provide sensitive information – PIN – to their own trusted partners, the payment processors. This means that their personnel information cannot be misused, the purchase cannot be repeated by anyone else. Based on this secure process flow customers may even retain their anonymity during the payment process, if they wish to.  

To ensure security for the merchants as well, they receive a bank guarantee for all payments received. As a result they do not need to know, identify their customers – just like in case of cash purchase – because collection risk is eliminated.

Beside the special process structure complex technical solutions ensure security of the service. All sensitive information is encrypted, while all notifications are signed using PKI infrastructure.

To ensure the secure operation of the service, all technical solutions applied are regularly audited just the like the payment processors participating in the service. 

12. Is SEMOPS in operation?

The service started its first pilots operation in Greece, Italy and Hungary and subsequent launches are already underway.

13. Is it possible to use SEMOPS abroad?

Yes, the service will be accessible independently of the actual location of the users. If the service is offered in one country, then all the users from any other countries can make purchases there as well.

14. What happens if I loose my phone, what happens with my data? Can it be used for making purchases?

SEMOPS does not store any sensitive information in the handset. The PIN to authorize the individual transactions is always typed in manually. Therefore loosing the phone numbers stored in the mobile, is probably more of a loss than the service related information that can always be recovered from the payment processors.

15. Is the SEMOPS service SMS based?

No, the service can be accessed, using all kinds of different communication channels. The preferred communication channels of SEMOPS are GPRS/3G and internet, however SMS is also an option.

For the customer-merchant communication direct communication channels, like NFC could be used, for remote transactions SMS and also Instant Messaging are the options.

The internet service obviously uses HTTP communication.