Western Union, Vodafone (UK), and its sister company Safaricom (Kenya), have began a Mobile Money Transfer trial between the UK and Kenya, in which Vodafone and Western Union users will be able to transfer funds from the UK to Kenya.

The service is in trial mode through a select number of Western Union agents in Reading, Berkshire, while users in Kenya can go to any  4,000 M-PESA agents in Kenya to withdraw their funds, or they can choose to forward them using their mobile phones.

According to the World Bank, last year Kenya received US$1.3bn in international remittance. A small number of Kenyans have a bank account, whereas more than 10m use mobile phones, which could dictate the increase of this industry.

Press release after the break.

[via BusinessWire]

Vodafone, Safaricom and Western Union Announce Partnership to Deliver International Mobile Money Transfers

Pilot Launched between U.K. and Kenya

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & LONDON & NAIROBI, Kenya--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vodafone (LSE:VOD), Safaricom (NBO:SCOM) and The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU) announced today that they will partner to pilot a cross-border Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) service between the U.K. and Kenya. This service will enable customers to send cross-border remittances from select locations directly to Safaricom mobile subscribers in Kenya generally in minutes.

The initiative uses Western Union’s trusted global “hub” for processing cross-border remittances. It builds on the success of M-PESA, a mobile money transfer service in Kenya offered by Vodafone and sister company Safaricom, which has attracted over 4 million customers since its launch in March 2007.

The pilot will take place through a select number of Western Union^® agents based in Reading, Berkshire. Consumers can send funds to any Safaricom mobile subscriber in Kenya in a matter of minutes. Receivers can use their funds in a variety of ways, including visiting one of 4,000 M-PESA agents in Kenya to withdraw their cash, or forwarding it on to another mobile phone in Kenya.

“The successful take-up of M-PESA in Kenya has clearly demonstrated the demand for easily accessible, secure cash payment services in emerging markets,” said Nick Hughes, Vodafone’s Head of International Mobile Payments. “Our partnership with Western Union allows M-PESA subscribers to receive international remittances and builds on the demand we have already seen domestically in Kenya.”

“This program aligns a global leader in money-transfer services, the world’s largest mobile operator group, and arguably one of the most impressive success stories in mobile money,” said Matt Dill, Senior Vice President, Western Union Digital Ventures. “In offering M-PESA users the opportunity to receive funds from abroad for the first time, these three companies are changing the way money moves around the globe.”

Michael Joseph, CEO of Safaricom, said, “This is another great step for M-PESA and will benefit many Kenyans all over the world. International remittances form a significant part of the total income for some Kenyans, and the partnership with Western Union will provide Kenyans with an opportunity to receive small values of cash from abroad in a fast, safe and affordable way.”

There are many benefits of using mobile phones for micro-transactions in a country like Kenya, where few people have bank accounts and over 10 million people have mobile phones. Furthermore, increased global migration has led to a significant increase in the flow of funds from expatriate migrant workers who send money home. Last year, for example, Kenya received approximately USD1.3bn* in international remittances.

Western Union, together with brands Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, has a combined network of more than 365,000 Agent locations worldwide in 200 countries and territories. Vodafone is the world’s largest mobile operator by revenue and has recently expanded the M-PESA service to Tanzania and Afghanistan. Safaricom is Kenya’s leading mobile operator and has had unprecedented success with its M-PESA service.

* Source: The World Bank

The purchaser is Vodafone International Holdings B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Vodafone Group.