Development of e-commerce in Uzbekistan (Part 2)

[img_assist|nid=8469|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=64]In 2007 the electronic payment systems “Unipay”, “E-Pay” and “Fast Pay” were set off, which are somehow similar to “Pay Net” (they only receive payments).

From the beginning of 2008 two companies, “Multisoft Solutions” and “Mobile Link Services”, announced the ending of “E-Karmon” and “Mobliss” payment systems development. The former has a higher protection level from an unsanctioned access (crack), however it currently only offers intermediary agreements for goods and services suppliers.

Alongside with that, “Mobliss” system, which has a lower protection level, offers services of direct balance renewal of mobile operators and order processing in various online stores of Tashkent.

Also “Mobliss” system signed an agreement with the recently created “Infinbank”, which suggests tying up of a plastic card to an electronic account in the Internet. In other words, there is an opportunity for conducting the so-called “Internet Banking” (offering banking services through Internet).

It is necessary to mention that in the beginning of 2008 “Infinbank” began offering “Internet Banking” services. Until this time there were attempts from “National Bank of Uzbekistan”, “Capital Bank”, “PromStroyBank” (Industrial Construction Bank) to offer such a service. However, due to some limitations in their work this project was unsuccessful.

In 2008 “Web Money” continued the expansion of the variety of its services, signed a number of intermediate agreements with some official suppliers of licensed software, electronic publishing houses, cellular and provider companies, learning centers, online stores specializing in trade of computer hardware, cosmetics and cell phones. Moreover it started offereing services for satisfying some tourism needs for travel within and out of the country (ticket booking, payment for tickets, hotels and tours).

Currently there are two popular payment systems existing in Uzbekistan, which already offer a wide variety of e-commerce services, including payments for gas, water, electric energy, stationary telephones. They are “Pay Net” and “Web Money”.

However “Web Money” and “Pay Net” have a greater development perspective. In order to continue development “Pay Net” has to reorganize its software and hardware complex. Otherwise in the following several years it will not have a competitive advantage over other systems, in terms of offering a wide variety of services, and will stop being competitive.

“Mobliss” system is also considered to be not very perspective because of some big limitations in terms of safety. In the future this may lead to cracks and theft of users' electronic accounts. As a result, the company will damage its image.

Fiatcinquecento, freelancer for Ecommerce Journal