Visa, the US-based financial services provider, yesterday announced that the company has launched its Tap to Phone pilot in the United States. Visa has already tested the company’s Tap to Phone service in more than 30 countries.

According to an official announcement, Visa has selected Washington DC for the launch as the firm is planning to support the local small businesses owned by the black community. Visa mentioned that the recent launch is an integral part of the company’s objective to digitally enable 50 million SMBs.

Tap to Phone technology of Visa turns Android phones of sellers into point-of-sale acceptance devices. The financial services provider aims to expand its Tap to Phone service in other cities of the US.

Commenting on the recent announcement, Mary Kay Bowman, global head of buyer, seller, core and platform products at Visa, said: “The way we shop and pay has forever changed. During the pandemic, tapping to pay and contactless checkout became more commonplace – and are now expected. With our technology, networking, and community resources, we’re hoping to empower small businesses everywhere to meet their customers in the next phase of digital-first commerce.”

Visa has expanded its services significantly since the start of this year. Earlier in June, the company announced a partnership with Goldman Sachs, one of the largest investment banks in the world, to facilitate small and large businesses in the modernization of the global money movement.

Black Community

In the recent announcement, Visa highlighted the importance of supporting local black-owned businesses. “We are incredibly proud to partner with Visa to celebrate and educate our fellow Washington D.C. entrepreneurs on the importance of technology, networking, and community. In addition to hosting the commerce in a box pick-up party tomorrow, we’re also one of the first businesses in the U.S. to test Visa’s Tap to Phone technology, which will be a gamechanger for so many small businesses,” Kimberly Smith, co-founder of The Brown Beauty Co-op commented.