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Published on August 21, 2007

Sakol Sachdev, managing director of Mini Pump (Thailand), said the Mini Pump was an intelligent kiosk that allowed motorcycle drivers and others to purchase small amounts of petrol and prepay mobile-phone fees using coins, banking facilities and mobile phones.

Customers can buy petrol via mobile phone using True Money services. Customers just send an SMS to identify the Mini Pump kiosk number to the system and then insert the value of the petrol in their mobile phone to transfer the money.

The bill will be sent to customers at home.

Customers who want to prepay mobile-phone fees can go to the Mini Pump and choose their mobile company - True Move, Happy or One 2 Call. They then press their mobile phone number and the amount they want to pay. The system will send an SMS back to the phone to inform the customer of the money in their mobile phone. 

"The Mini Pump will make it comfortable for users who want to buy petrol and prepaid mobile phone services near their home and it will be suitable for businesses that want to sell petrol in their community," said Sakol.

He said the firm also plans to expand to Cambodia and Vietnam in the near future and expects this year to distribute more than 500 units nationwide.

It also plans to allow customers to pay for utilities services such as electricity and water at the kiosks next year.

Teerawat Pudchakul, researcher and developer, said the firm has a pilot project to bundle the global information system into the kiosks. The firm spent six months on research and development.

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation