University of Cincinnati launches cell phone payment program

CINCINNATI, Ohio University of Cincinnati students can now use their cell phones to pay for items sold by merchants on the UC campus and in the surrounding Short Vine, Uptown and Ludlow Clifton business districts, thanks to a new program developed by the university in partnership with Cincinnati Bell.

The partnership between UC and Cincinnati Bell, a regional wireless network provider, launched in November 2007, is one of the first campus-wide communications programs in the nation offering students and faculty fully networked wireless connectivity, the parties reported.

According to the participants, the program, powered by Mocapay and Cincinnati Bell and sponsored by Kroger, allows students to pay for goods and services with their mobile phone on and around the UC campus at dozens of local retailers. In addition, the Queen City Centre and University Plaza Kroger locations will begin accepting mobile payments in early 2008.

"The new mobile payment initiative adds another unique leading-edge application to our UC Mobile program, making the Bearcat phone an even more useful and value-added service for our students and community," said Fred Siff, UC vp and cio. “We are delighted to be partnering with pillars of our community such as Kroger and Cincinnati Bell -- and a new partner in Mocapay -- to further differentiate and distinguish the quality of student life and services at the University of Cincinnati.”