Money News PH | UnionPay International and Samsung Wallet Unveil Global Mobile Payment Partnership, Launching First in Hong Kong
SHANGHAI / via PR Newswire / — UnionPay International (UPI) and Samsung Electronics have announced a new global mobile payment collaboration that brings together NFC contactless payments and QR code payments into a single, integrated solution within Samsung Wallet. The partnership, powered by UnionPay’s “NFC-QRC all-in-one” technology, is designed to enhance cross-border and everyday digital payments for consumers worldwide.
The service will debut in Hong Kong SAR, making it the first market to roll out the combined payment experience. BOC Credit Card (International) Co., Ltd. will serve as the inaugural issuing partner, enabling eligible cardholders to link their UnionPay cards to Samsung Wallet and choose seamlessly between NFC tap-to-pay or QR code payments at checkout.
Expanding Global Digital Payments for Android Users
Samsung Wallet is currently available in 62 countries and regions, positioning the collaboration to significantly expand UnionPay’s mobile payment footprint among Android users globally. The initiative also supports faster local digital card issuance and broader acceptance of mobile payments in both online and offline environments.
To mark the Hong Kong launch, UnionPay International and Samsung Electronics will introduce exclusive instant discount promotions for UnionPay cardholders using Samsung Galaxy smartphones, reinforcing adoption in one of Asia’s most advanced financial and payments markets.
Executive Perspectives
Larry Wang, Chief Executive Officer of UnionPay International, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:
“This collaboration with Samsung Electronics and BOC Credit Card demonstrates how combining the strengths of multiple partners can accelerate the development of a cross-border mobile payment ecosystem. By integrating UnionPay’s global payment network with Samsung’s terminal and platform advantages, we are making international payments more convenient, inclusive, and accessible.”
Woncheol Chai, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Wallet Team at Samsung Electronics’ Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative:
“The partnership between Samsung Wallet and UnionPay goes beyond technical integration. It represents a meaningful step toward delivering a more secure and convenient mobile payment environment for customers. By combining Samsung’s global capabilities with UnionPay’s extensive issuer and merchant partnerships, we expect to further accelerate mobile payment adoption—offline and online—not only across Greater China but worldwide. In addition to NFC payments, we will rapidly expand QR payment functionality to strengthen Samsung Wallet’s competitiveness.”
Stephen Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), welcomed the milestone:
“We are pleased that BOC Credit Card is the first institution in Hong Kong to support this new payment service from UnionPay International and Samsung Electronics. Our UnionPay credit cardholders will enjoy early access to binding their cards with Samsung Wallet, benefiting from a more convenient payment experience while also supporting the global rollout of Samsung Wallet and next-generation mobile payment innovation.”
One App, Multiple Payment Options
UnionPay’s “NFC-QRC all-in-one” solution allows a single mobile wallet to support multiple payment methods, enabling overseas partner institutions to deploy two UnionPay mobile payment services simultaneously. This flexibility addresses the varying preferences of consumers and merchants across different markets.
Currently, UnionPay mobile payment services—including UnionPay Mobile QuickPass and UnionPay QR code payments—are accepted in more than 100 countries and regions. Outside mainland China, UnionPay Mobile QuickPass is available at over 23 million POS terminals, while QR code interoperability projects have been implemented or are underway in around 50 markets, with tens of millions of merchants now accepting UnionPay QR codes.
Phased Global Expansion Ahead
Following the Hong Kong rollout, UnionPay International and Samsung Electronics plan to expand the service to additional markets, subject to regulatory approvals and technical readiness. The collaboration underscores a broader push across Asia and beyond to modernize payment infrastructure, support cashless economies, and deliver secure, user-friendly mobile payment solutions for consumers and businesses alike.
SOURCE: UnionPay International
