ICICI Launches iMobile Smartkeys

ICICI Bank has launched a revolutionary mobile banking platform that allows customers make transactions from their smartphone keyboard. The innovative tool dubbed ‘iMobile Smartkeys’ is the first of its kind in Asia. Customers can make secure transactions from their keyboard without closing the current app they are using. The service is available on iPhone 5 and OS version iOS 8.1 and above. The bank is yet to reveal when the Android version will be released. Smartkeys comes with the latest version of their mobile App. The app upgrade came as a result of the recently concluded ICICI Appathon, a competition which gives tech start-ups (and individuals) the opportunity to create apps and mobile banking products for the bank and its partners.

With Smartkeys, customers can now transfer money to beneficiaries, recharge their mobile phones and pay bills. The bank’s Group Executive and Chief Technology and Digital Officer, B Madhivanan, stated at the release that the system not only makes mobile banking quicker than ever before, but it is also highly secure, and tailored for the modern consumer. Through the bank’s Appathon, they have been able to give a large number of local technopreneurs the ability to showcase their talents and gain international exposure. It is a welcome challenge, given that India is now the second largest market for mobile phones and smartphone users.

ICICI bank is the largest private sector bank in India, with a presence in 18 other countries. The ICICI Appathon is also the country’s largest virtual mobile app development competition. Given this success, the bank plans on expanding the competition and increasing its support of local developers, in a country rich in tech-savvy individuals and deep untapped potential.