GoPago is mobile payments done right: Backed by JPMorgan Chase, Tim Lincecum

With all of the mobile payment solutions around today, it’s hard to keep up with them. Likely the most interesting and novel approach to mobile payments is Google Wallet, as there’s something that’s just fun about paying with a tap of a phone. That said, we know how Google’s mobile payment system is going right now, so let’s leave that one be. I recently got a chance to see GoPago in action, and while it may like the wow-factor of Google Wallet, this is a mobile payment solution that I’d actually want to use.

I got a chance to sit down with Leo Rocco, CEO and founder of GoPago, and got a demo of the mobile payment solution. We sat down at a table and talked about San Francisco, living in the mission, ice cream, and what have you. While we were talking, Leo passed me his iPhone to look at the menu of El Toro, we ordered where we were sitting, without getting in line or interrupting our conversation. And that’s what makes GoPago special. We didn’t get up from our seat or have to stop talking to order our food, and that’s where GoPago sets itself apart. No more waiting in line or worrying about where you’re going to sit in a crowded place once you get your food.

About 30 seconds after submitting our order, a notification popped up on Leo’s phone, saying that our order would be ready in five minutes. Sure enough, after five minutes we got another notification saying our order was ready, we went to the counter, flashed our receipt to the cashier, and got our food. Simple. It’s this kind of simplicity that the mobile payment space needs. You can order your food and get back to what’s important to you. I’d almost liken GoPago to Hipmunk, which factors in “agony”, as you don’t need to waste your time. This comes in handy if you have a short lunch break. Hell, you can order while you’re at work and pick it up right when your break starts.

With multiple mobile payment solutions already in place, the convenience of GoPago should become more notable as time goes on and it expands into more markets. With JP Morgan Chase backing the company, we’re sure it will expand swiftly. Currently available in San Francisco Bay Area and Las Vegas markets, GoPago will soon spread to the Dallas, TX area. GoPago is currently available on iOS, Android, and BlackBerry.

Most recently, the company has teamed up with SF Giants pitcher, Tim Lincecum. GoPago and Lincecum will be buying lunch for his 200,000 Facebook fans by offering up a $10 discount in participating San Francisco Bay Area restaurants.

Press Release after the break

Tim Lincecum Teams Up with GoPago to Thank Fans with Free Lunch

200,000+ Bay Area fans get “free lunch” on “The Freak” via GoPago’s mobile app at hundreds of local restaurants

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2012 – GoPago, the leading cloud-based mobile payment app backed by JPMorgan Chase, announced today that it has partnered with two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants to buy lunch for more than 200,000 of his Facebook fans in San Francisco at their choice of hundreds of local restaurants on the GoPago platform.

“My fans are world-class and I’m always looking for new ways to show my appreciation for their support. It’s amazing what you can do with your phone these days and GoPago will allow me to hook them up with a free lunch on me!” – Tim Lincecum

GoPago’s platform is driving innovation in the way celebrities and brands can leverage mobile payment technology to provide value and recognition to consumers. This marks the first time a celebrity has been able to deploy a fan appreciation campaign of this scale while giving fans the power to choose where they can redeem their reward.

Starting July 10, Lincecum will post the first of four personalized codes to his Facebook page and will post three more in the upcoming weeks. Each code can be redeemed for a $10.00 credit towards purchase at any Bay Area restaurant on the GoPago platform, which includes local favorites like Blue Fog Market, Umami Burger, Freshii, Naked Fish, Osha Thai, Tropisue?o, The Sandwich Spot andSeller’s Market.

To redeem, San Francisco-based fans simply download the GoPago app to their smartphones (available for both Android and iOS platforms) and enter the code “THEFREAK” when prompted. That code (and subsequent codes that will be posted) is infinitely shareable with friends, but can only be redeemed once per user and will deactivate on Friday, August 10.

Among Lincecum’s 440,000 plus fans on Facebook, more than 200,000 are in the Bay Area and will be able to take advantage of this offer.

“The San Francisco Giants inspired me to start GoPago a few years ago and we’ve been long-time fans of Tim– especially how active he is in the San Francisco community. We’re thrilled to help Tim deliver a high-tech thank you to his fans, San Francisco-style, with a scope and scale never before possible. This reinforces our commitment to building local businesses by giving them the opportunity to connect with Tim’s massive fan base.” – Leo Rocco, CEO and founder of GoPago.
Follow Tim Lincecum’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/timlincecum for free lunch codes. Check out GoPago at www.gopago.com.

ABOUT GOPAGO:
GoPago, Inc. is re-imagining the way consumers and brick and mortar businesses use smartphones for mobile commerce – enabling consumers to easily browse, order and pay for everything from food and drinks to haircuts and dry cleaning, while giving merchants a one-stop mobile storefront that lets them run their business and build customer loyalty. The San Francisco based company was founded in 2009, and currently works with merchants in Mountain View, Calif., the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and San Francisco with plans to expand to Dallas and New York City.