European NFC solutions developer Zapa Technology has chosen the loyalty and prepaid platform developed by ViVOtech, a software provider of NFC-based mobile phone payments, for its mobile loyalty and gift card processing services aimed at European retailers.

As a result of the initiative, the loyalty or prepaid accounts enabled by ViVOtech's mLoyalty platform and its contactless technology will reside on a Zapa TAG sticker that can be placed inside or outside an existing mobile phone. As part of a second phase of the project, customers will use NFC-enabled mobile phones to download their account information using ViVOtech Over-the-Air (OTA) provisioning software. Zapa TAG can be used as a loyalty card for multiple retailers.

In order to initiate payment transactions, consumers must tap the Zapa TAG, which is placed on the back of the phone, against the Zapa-branded contactless payment reader at participating retailers. They can thus earn product-based loyalty, redeem coupons or collect loyalty points.