Blog / Welcome to Beem

Monday

08/02/2010

Welcome to Beem

I’ve spent over 20 years in senior roles within the mobile industry, at BT Cellnet, Orange and now Beem. I’ve witnessed many firsts in this time, the commercialisation of text messaging, prepay, video telephony, 1g, 2g, 2.5g, 3g, WiMax to name a few, but without question the single most exciting for me is Mobile Money, as it offers the greatest potential.

I’m fascinated by the opportunity Mobile Money presents. On one level it’s fun sending money to friends via personal text messages, but also for me, there is a serious side to all of this. I truly believe Mobile Money will transform the face of our planet. Not only will it offer speed, convenience and even spontaneity for developed markets, it will also act as catalyst in those less developed.

I see a world of Mobile Money where anyone can send money to someone else quickly securely and simply via a mobile phone. This will decentralise our global economy and offer anyone the ability to freely transact with anyone else. Mobile Money means that money can go direct. Direct to businesses, direct to traders, direct to the needy, and direct to causes. It is not just about paying for things; it’s also about supporting and giving. 

For commerce, Mobile Money represents the timely convergence of mobile communication and the ability to transact. This convergence creates a low cost financial medium, which reaches the masses. Effectively, it’s a new industry that any business, whether you’re a one-man band or a multinational, can benefit from. Offering new channels to market, new interactions, new revenue streams and real-time auditing of money flows. The businesses that best grasp these characteristics are set to benefit the most, just like those businesses that grasped the true potential of the internet. 

Central to this more fair and fluid economy is security. Nowadays, many of us have been desensitised to fraud, card and identity theft and have come to accept this risk as part of our daily lives. The point here is that Mobile Money can offer the ability to Beem money without continually having to share your personal details. In the future we will find it bizarre that we ever had to recite our credit card details to strangers over the phone.

On a personal level, I relish the prospect of actually buying those ‘Gunners’ tickets the second I think about going rather than putting it off to later.

That’s just one of my Beem moments. I'd be interested in hearing yours.  

Kerl Haslam CEO

Beemers

Now I have Beem, I'm never really out of cash. I use it for sending money to people and had a nice surprise the other day when I found a taxi firm using it.

Mark - 39, London
I've used Beem for the last year or so to buy loads of tickets for nights out at uni. It's so easy to use and much less hassle than having to wait for ages on campus.

Tapin - 19, Brunel Student
I am new to Beem but have already had some great successes with it, including beeming a small amount of money to my boyfriend so that both of us could buy priority tickets for a night out. This was quick and easy using the "get cash" system and meant my boyfriend could come with me on the night.

Louisa - 18, Brunel Student
I’ve just recently been introduced to Beem and its great! My friend beemed me a fiver she owed me and I went on the website to check it out, there are loads of things that Beem can make easier for me and as a girl is just nice to know I can always get hold of some money if I need it.

Kerry - 28, Lincs
I started using Beem a few months ago. I use top ups for my pay as you go mobile broadband dongal and if I’ve used up all the credit I don’t need to worry about not being able to get online or going out of my way to a shop, I can get a top up voucher in seconds by text. It saves so much hassle.

Gerard - 32, London
I have found many great uses for Beem, including the luxury of buying priority tickets for a night out in my own home instead of waiting for hours to get a normal one. It is a great way of ensuring a whole friendship group get to go to an event greatly in demand without having to all meet up.

Pete - 21, Brunel Student
I think Beem is amazing, it saves me so much time and money, and I can pay money into my bank account whilst sitting watching the television, with no need to go to the bank or go on to the internet! I even sent some money I owed to my friend when I was away on holiday, and it doesn’t cost me a penny to withdraw cash from my bank account! I occasionally do some shopping for a friend of mine and she just pays me by Beem and I can pay into my bank account in a few seconds! It is definitely the way forward!!

Val - 41, Hampshire