MasterCard Inc. today announced MasterPass, a digital wallet that supports mobile payments at the point of sale and online payments without the need to type a card number each time.
MasterPass is based on the
MasterPass is already in testing with many issuers and merchants. By the end of March, consumers in Australia and Canada will be able to use MasterPass. The product will come to the UK in the spring and the U.S. in the summer. Later this year, MasterCard plans to offer MasterPass in Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain and Sweden as well.
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MasterPass wallets can be branded for specific banks, merchants and other third parties. The point of sale version of MasterPass supports Near Field Communication, quick-response (QR) bar codes, and other mobile payment methods.
“Every device is becoming a shopping device,” said Ed McLaughlin, chief emerging payments officer at MasterCard, in a press release. “MasterPass brings together all of the ways we pay for things, from traditional plastic cards to digital wallets, and gives consumers the ability to make a payment from wherever they are and with one simple experience.”
MasterCard’s financial institution partners for MasterPass include BBVA Bank, BNLPOSitivity, BNL Italy, BNP Paribas Fortis Belgium, Banco Sabadell, Banco Santander, Banca Sella, Bank of Montreal, Citi, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank Italy, EnterCard, EURO 6000, European Merchant Services, Fifth Third Bank, Handelsbanken, International Card Services Netherlands, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lake Trust Credit Union, ME Bank, NAB, SEB Kort, SIA, Swedbank, TMG Financial Services, UniCredit and Westpac.
“We look forward to extending the benefits of MasterPass to additional markets in which we operate, with a global roll-out in the near future,” says Javier Herraiz global director of innovation in payments at Santander Cards, in the release.
MasterCard’s merchant partners include AHL, American Airlines, Argos, Boots, Grocery Gateway, Harvey Norman, Hikingboots.com, JB Hi-Fi, LogiTRAVEL, Mediamarket Spa Italy, MLB Advanced Media, Park Avenue Coffee, Roses Only Group, Runningshoes.com, Vodafone Italy and Wintercheck Factory.
“As a digital retail leader, we are keen to be at the forefront of new ways customers can shop with us,” said John Walden, managing director for Argos, in the release. “With customers rapidly changing their mix of shopping methods, whether Internet, mobile device or in store, MasterPass will in due course enable us to provide our customers with a simple, quicker and secure way to shop.”
MasterCard’s technology partners include Adyen, Buckaroo, CQR, Cardinal Commerce, Cart32, CO-OP Financial Services, DataCash, Demandware, ICBA Bancard Inc., Merchant Warrior, mFoundry, Moneris, OPENTECH.com, Paycorp Holdings, PSCU, Reply, Sage Pay, SIA, The Members Group, Usablenet and VeriFone Systems Inc.
