[Special Stock] ICK Anticipates Growth in Tap-to-Pay Market... Android 'Selfie' Highlighted

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] ICK is showing strong performance. Apple announced that it will introduce the 'Tap to Pay' feature, a contactless payment system that allows payments via iPhone. As expectations grow for the related market to expand, attention is also turning to ICK, which provides services for Android.

As of 11:39 AM on the 9th, ICK is trading at 3,800 KRW, up 5.56% from the previous day.

According to major foreign media on the 8th (local time), Apple will launch a new payment system this year utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The iPhone itself can be used as a terminal, allowing payments by bringing a credit card close to the device. Payments between smartphones as well as digital payments like Apple Pay are also possible.

ICK has signed an agreement with the U.S. software company Ant&Bee Corp and is operating the 'Selfie' service, which possesses Tap to Pay technology. Selfie has currently obtained Visa and MasterCard payment certifications for Softpos, a universal terminal in the Android ecosystem.

By using the system, payments can be made with just a smartphone without POS or card terminals, similar to Apple's 'Tap to Pay.' It can also be utilized in the online payment market through various methods such as QR codes and barcodes on smartphone screens.

The company expects that Apple's entry into the Tap to Pay market will accelerate the expansion of the contactless payment market. Existing online payments involve checking individual card payment information and the card company processing the payment. Selfie uses NFC payments, allowing an individual's smartphone to act as a POS with excellent security.

A company representative said, "The Tap to Pay feature is a customer-driven payment solution that excels in convenience and security, making it a spotlighted next-generation payment system," adding, "With Apple's Tap to Pay launch within the year, the market penetration rate of contactless payment services is expected to increase rapidly."