Public transport alliances set to boost UnionPay

China UnionPay is busy collaborating with public transportation systems nationwide to enable "tap and go" and "scan and go" entrances, a move that may propel the brand ahead of its mobile payment competitors.

The clearing services provider has lagged behind Alipay and WeChat Pay since the surge of mobile payments in 2014, but may catch up with those competitors by encouraging the use of UnionPay quick response code (QR code) payment and QuickPass, a form of near-field communication (NFC) payment.

In the first 19 cities where UnionPay pilot mobile payment applications will be used in public transportation, UnionPay provides users with comprehensive solutions including mobile phone QuickPass, bankcard QuickPass and QR code payment, said China UnionPay in a statement.