Danish telco payments venture maps out path to NFC

Denmark’s four mobile network operators have formed a joint venture company to introduce mobile payments and a three phase rollout programme that will “eventually” evolve to include support for NFC.

Telenor, TDC, 3 and Telia
JOINT VENTURE: The new company has been formed but its name has not yet been revealed

The mobile payments joint venture announced by Denmark’s four mobile network operators in June 2011 is slowly coming to life, with the appointment of a chief executive and the announcement of a roadmap that takes the partners to NFC payments.

The four networks, TDC, Telenor, TeliaSonera and 3, have formed a new company — as yet unnamed — and appointed Peter Bredgaard as managing director. Each of the networks will have a seat on the board, which will be chaired by Atos Denmark’s CEO Flemming L Jensen.

Bredgaard will join the company in January 2013 from Danish mobile solutions specialist Unwire, where he was chief sales officer.

The company has announced that it will roll out mobile payments in three phases:

  • Phase one: Mobile payment via SMS and apps — purchases will be paid for via a customer’s phone bill or bank account.
  • Phase two: Ecommerce via mobile phone number — when a customer buys a product online, a mobile payment option will allow them to enter their mobile number and confirm the purchase with a PIN. The payment will then be taken from the customer’s bank account.
  • Phase three: A next-generation digital wallet — customers will be able to add other cards and services to a mobile wallet. This could include gym membership cards, store cards, discount coupons, and travel tickets.

NFC will be a part of the solution “eventually”, say the partners. “This requires cooperation on the development of NFC infrastructure.”

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