BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - March 11, 2014) - The world's first open platform for wearable applications is now linked to the world's first open payment network.
BeautifulLab has built the first wearable payment app that enables customers to "pay with their Pebble smartwatch." The app is powered by LevelUp's payment platform and featured in the Pebble appstore.
LevelUp's Developer Platform enables third party developers to integrate LevelUp directly into their own applications or web services, creating the opportunity for consumers and business owners to make and accept transactions by paying with their phone, paying online or now paying with their wristwatch.
Launched February 3rd, the Pebble appstore is the first open platform for sharing apps optimized for wearables. This centralized location features a variety of app categories including fitness, utilities and games. The addition of LevelUp makes Pebble the first smartwatch to enable transactions at local businesses.
"BeautifulLab's LevelUp app for Pebble is the next step forward in payment innovation," said Tung Pham, co-founder of BeatifulLab. "By enabling people to pay with their watch, we've reduced unnecessary steps in the transaction process and created perhaps the easiest way for people to pay for things. I look forward to one day telling my kids about how people used to pay for things with plastic cards."
With over 1.5MM LevelUp account holders and over 8,000 businesses, LevelUp is the largest mobile payment network in the country. Users pay with LevelUp by scanning their smartphone or smartwatch at checkout, or by simply logging into their LevelUp account when transacting on the web.
"Being able to pay with my Pebble smartwatch is just awesome. The app BeautifulLab has built is simple, fast and convenient. It definitely turns heads when I checkout with a quick flick of the wrist," said Seth Priebatsch, CEO of LevelUp. With LevelUp's Developer Platform, developers like BeautifulLab can integrate LevelUp directly into their own mobile and web apps. "This app is a clear demonstration of the great user experiences that developers like BeautifulLab can create when working with open platforms like Pebble and LevelUp."
To celebrate their partnership, LevelUp is giving away a Pebble watch + $250 of LevelUp credit to the customer making the 7MMth LevelUp payment, slated to happen sometime in March.
About BeautifulLab
Co-founded by two brothers Minh Pham and Tung Pham, BeautifulLab pursues to create innovative web and mobile applications that tackle the most fundamental aspects of our everyday life such as entertainment, payment, transportation, etc. It aims to offer creative solutions that lead to more seamless, convenient user experience and improve the quality of life. LevelUp app for Pebble is BeautifulLab's latest attempt to challenge the existing complications in our payment method and provide its own unique and efficient solution to the well-established problem.
About Pebble
Launched on Kickstarter in 2012 as the most successful crowdfunding campaign to date, Pebble is the watch built for the 21st century. Designed to be minimalist yet fashionable, Pebble seamlessly blends into everyday life. Pebble is infinitely customizable with useful, internet-connected apps and beautiful watchfaces from the Pebble appstore, located within the Pebble smartphone app. In 2014, Pebble welcomed Pebble Steel, a premium addition to its smartwatch family. Pebble connects to iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth, and is available at getpebble.com. Like us on Facebook and follow @Pebble on Twitter.
About LevelUp
LevelUp is the largest open mobile payments network. Consumers use their LevelUp account to pay with their smart device or web browser, demonstrating the fastest and easiest way to pay. Businesses accept transactions for just 2% flat, thus enabling dramatic cost savings they can pass along to customers. LevelUp is backed by Google Ventures, Balderton Capital, Continental Investors, Highland Capital, Transmedia Capital and T-Venture, the venture arm of Deutsche-Telekom. Learn more at thelevelup.com