Wise has added eSIM data plans to its app that travellers size themselves by data and days, with refunds for anything left unused. It has also connected to local QR payment schemes such as Pix in Brazil and PayNow in Singapore. Through a partnership with Alipay+, users can pay merchants in more than 50 destinations, including mainland China. Alipay+ is not offered to customers in the US and Canada.

What it means: With eSIM data plans and links to local QR payment schemes, Wise is gradually turning from an international money transfer app into an all-in-one travel app that covers both connectivity and spending without the traveller needing to switch cards or SIM cards. Refunds for unused data are a practical difference from many roaming packages, and show fintechs competing on simplicity and price transparency, where traditional providers often fall short. Access to schemes such as Pix and PayNow, along with the Alipay+ partnership, solves a real problem, since in many countries QR codes are the dominant way to pay and foreign cards are not always accepted by small shops. For mobile operators, the message is that roaming revenue outside Europe is under threat from players that are not even telecom companies, while for business travellers it means fewer apps and more predictable costs on every trip abroad, whether for a short meeting or a longer stay.

Read the original on PR Newswire (Wise)

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