Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
Need some help finding the best deals in town? Visa has launched its free Visa Mobile Application for the iPhone to highlight local offers for Visa cardholders. The app consolidates all of the deals in your area by checking your location using the iPhone's built-in GPS.
Over 50 retail partners are represented, including Visa offers from 24-Hour Fitness, Buca di Beppo, Cold Water Creek, Crowne Plaza, Hard Rock Cafe, Holiday Inn, Jos A Banks, Meineke, New York & Company, Papa John's, Pearle Vision, Planet Hollywood, Tourneau and Zales. Visa Signature cardholders can also take advantage of exclusive Signature offers in addition to the rest.
Visa Mobile will find the retail locations participating in deals in your local vicinity, then give you directions to the store or closest ATM. The special offers can be filtered by offer type, including categories such as Computers & Electronics, Entertainment, Food & Drink and Health & Beauty, etc. Retail locations are pinpointed on a map with offers detailed in a coupon-like format with dates and discounts on specific products explained.
Visa developed the app in partnership with Monitise, a banking and payments platform company based in the UK. The two companies announced a strategic partnership to develop mobile apps on different platforms in 2009, with Visa acquiring a 14 percent stake in the company.
Many of the Visa deals can be redeemed online or in stores. Visa Mobile launches for free just in time to help shoppers save a few bucks in the holiday season. Too bad the app won't pay your credit card bills.