Citi Cards Launches Innovative Mobile Products for Today's On-the-Go Consumer Lifestyle
Americans are becoming more reliant on their mobile devices to access information. The number of people who sought local information on their mobile device grew 51% last year, with the fastest growing method of accessing this info through downloaded apps.* Today, Citi Cards, an innovator in cards, payment and mobile technologies, introduces Citi Shopper(SM), a free "beta version" location-based mobile application, available at citishopper.citi.com, to help consumers save and spend smarter. Citi Shopper delivers local offers and deals on products from electronics to apparel; compares prices; provides maps to nearby retailers; as well as reminds Citi cardmembers of offers and benefits specific to their Citi credit cards.
Citi Shopper is just one of three new advanced mobile products from Citi Cards to help U.S.-based customers save time and money, particularly on the go. MasterCard(R) PayPass(TM) stickers, available for a majority of Citi credit cards at paypass.citicards.com, can be affixed to the back of mobile devices and used to make contactless payments at approximately 230,000 merchants that accept PayPass transactions. In early summer, Citi will roll out a PayPass locator application that searches and maps the nearest PayPass merchants.
"Citi is constantly looking for ideas and solutions that are the right fit for our customers and their lifestyle, based on what they tell us that they need," said Paul Galant, CEO, Citi Cards. "Citi Shopper is the latest example of how Citi is delivering cutting-edge mobile capabilities for our customers to enhance their everyday shopping experience and help them better manage their money."
Powered by GPShopper's Slifter(TM) technology, Citi Shopper searches inventory information of over two billion products to find products and offers at over a thousand retailers including some of your local favorites, compares prices, and maps the nearest stores where the searched item is in stock. To further savings, Citi Shopper also reminds users of offers, rewards, and benefits specific to their Citi credit cards.
Citi Shopper combines the consumer desire to shop for great deals - quickly and conveniently - with the latest mobile technology on the most popular smartphones.
Once installed on their mobile device, Citi Shopper lets users:
Browse deals and promotions at major local and online retailers Be reminded of Citi credit card-specific rewards, benefits and offers Search local store inventory for over two billion products Sort products by price or distance View product details, images, availability, and a map to the nearest location Save products and promotions into a mobile Shopping List Share finds with friends and family Contact participating retailers with just one click
Galant adds, "Today, about 20% of purchases, representing about $1.5 trillion, are made with cash, which doesn't provide the benefits that come with using a credit card - where you can earn miles, cash back or rewards points for purchases. Our customers are busy, often using their phone for everything from finding a good restaurant to searching for a new washing machine. We want to be there for our customers, providing information, payment options, products and services, wherever and however they choose."
"These offerings are helping to change the way people think about and use money," said Deborah Hopkins, Chairman of Venture Capital Initiatives and Chief Innovation Officer at Citi. "Through extensive research into our customers' lifestyles, and through partnerships with leaders in technology and design, we are developing services to meet consumers' current and future needs. And we're working to build Citi into the world's leading digital bank."
Citi Shopper leverages the Slifter(TM) technology built and managed by GPShopper(R), a leader in local mobile shopping. Citi Shopper is available on four platforms, iPhone(R), Blackberry(R), Android(TM) and WAP, downloadable at citishopper.citi.com.
Citi's contactless MasterCard PayPass sticker is supplied by Oberthur Technologies, the world's second largest provider of smart card based solutions and a leading provider of contactless in the U.S.
* comScore, June 2009
About Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com .
