No cash, no cards: Mobile app lets you pay with just your smartphone

Leonie Erasmus and Teo Kermeliotis, CNN
Updated 6:21 AM EST, Thu February 20, 2014
SnapScan is a South African app designed to help users buy goods with their mobile phones.
Mobile payments on the rise —
SnapScan is a South African app designed to help users buy goods with their mobile phones.
Courtesy SnapScan
Free to download, SnapScan was named App of the Year 2013 at the MTN Business Awards.
Mobile payments on the rise —
Free to download, SnapScan was named App of the Year 2013 at the MTN Business Awards.
Courtesy SnapScan
"If you look at mobile payments specifically, Africa is actually one of the leaders in this space," says Kobus Ehlers, co-founder of SnapScan.
Mobile payments on the rise —
"If you look at mobile payments specifically, Africa is actually one of the leaders in this space," says Kobus Ehlers, co-founder of SnapScan.
Courtesy SnapScan
More than 720 million people across Africa have mobile phones, while the continent's smartphone market is expected to double in the next four years.
Mobile continent —
More than 720 million people across Africa have mobile phones, while the continent's smartphone market is expected to double in the next four years.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/GettyImages
Many businesses are keen to into the proliferation of mobile across Africa, following the success of services like M-Pesa in Kenya.
Mobile payments on the rise —
Many businesses are keen to into the proliferation of mobile across Africa, following the success of services like M-Pesa in Kenya.
TONY KARUMBA/AFP/Getty Images/file
Mobile payments on the rise

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Story highlights

SnapScan is an award-winning app allowing buyers to pay with their smartphone

Users do not need to worry about carrying cash or losing their credit cards

Mobile apps are changing the way business is done in many African countries

The