One company you wouldn’t expect to find on the cutting edge of technology is Cumberland Farms. Known for its inexpensive milk, the regional gas and convenience store is also ready to launch a mobile payment system. The Framingham, Mass-based chain has partnered with PayPal to produce a mobile app called SmartPay which lets you pay at the pump using your phone. To get customers to use the app, the duo is offering a discount of five cents per gallon off the price of gas.
The Boston Globe details the process of buying a tank of gas and points out one of apps biggest benefits — in-car payments. Those living in New England where Cumberland Farms is concentrated, will appreciate the ability to start a gas transaction while inside their warm car, not standing at a freezing cold pump. Similar to other mobile apps, SmartPay also has a location feature that’ll point you to the closest participating Cumberland Farms.
The program is in the pilot stage and only setup at a few Cumberland Farms locations in Eastern Massachusetts. Dave Banks, the chief information officer of Cumberland Farms, told the Globe that the company hopes to roll out the program to all 600 locations and possibly increase the saving to 10-cents.
The app is available for Android and iPhone. There’s also a mobile web version for other smartphone and feature phone platforms.
[Via The Boston Globe]