USSD Prototype - open to bidding

USSD Outgoing Mobile Payment Context A mobile money network is already operational in the country. Subscribers can deposit in or withdraw from their account, transfer money to each other or pay utility bills (electricity, cable TV) As the network grows, more services will be added, such as merchant payment for good and services, salary payment, invoice payment. The Merchant population can be segmented in two categories:  the big department stores, with high volume and high traffic  The small independent stores The first category of merchants tend to have a sophisticated IT system and back-office, integrated to their network of POS (point of sales). They accept many different payment methods, such as checks, Visa and MasterCard, debit card, etc. The second category which this project targets more specifically concerns merchants and micro-businesses, operating essentially on cash, and generally with no bank account. The goal is to enable this segment to make and receive payments through the mobile money network. Description of the existing procedure 1. The User dials a predefined string to initiate a USSD session 2. The Mobile Money USSD gateway returns a menu displayed on the Subscriber’s phone. 3. The Subscribers selects the desired menu item (e.g. Menu 2 : make a payment) 4. The Mobile Money Operator’s USSD Gateway returns another dialogue for the subscriber to enter the beneficiary’s phone number 5. The Subscriber enters the phone number and sends 6. The Mobile Money USSD returns a menu to request the amount to be transferred 7. The Subscribers enters the amount 8. The gateway returns a menu to prompt for a password or secret code 9. The Subscriber enters the password 10. The mobile money platform sends an SMS to the Subscriber and the Beneficiary to confirm the transfer, along with their respective account balances and the amount of the transfer Objective The objective is build an application that will handle the USSD session data exchange after allowing the User to enter the required data. User Interface The application User Interface shall allow the User to enter:  the phone number of the payee (entity receiving the payment)  The amount to be transferred  The secret code (provided by the Mobile Operator at the time of registration for a mobile money account). Optionally this can be stored, provided adequate security is implemented for accessing the application Application Process Flow All the data initially entered by the User are saved 1. The User initiates the payment request 2. The Application sends the string for starting the USSD session 3. The Application receives the menu 4. The application sends the digit corresponding to a money transfer request 5. The Application sends the phone number attached to the mobile money account of the Payee 6. The Application sends the secret code (entered by the User, or internally stored in Settings) 7. The Application stores for future reference the confirmation SMS received from the Mobile Money Operator Statement of Work The work will require three incremental steps A. Basic USSD session test: activation and data exchange B. Proof-of-concept to actually execute a simple basic real- life payment transaction C. Application: detailed specs to be realized upon successful completion of 1 and 2 above Hardware Proof of Concepts and Application should be run on Android tablets or smartphones