Etisalat and Wirecard show future of mobile payments at Mobile World Congress

One solution to be shown at the event is a fast and efficient method of making payments that utilises Wirecard`s Payment Processing platform and a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface to make contactless payments via Smartphone.

In another solution, Etisalat enables its customers to accept credit card payments with mobile card readers that plug directly into mobile phones.

Etisalat is a multinational telecommunications organisation with operations in fifteen countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, including some markets with a low penetration of credit card terminals, such as Nigeria, Egypt and Afghanistan.

"We are proud to join Etisalat in presenting the future of mobile payments at the Mobile World Congress," said Christian von Hammel-Bonten, Executive Vice President of telecommunications at Wirecard. "The next years will be a transformative period in the payments industry with mobile operators emerging as major forces in the payments space."

Khalifa Alforah, Chief Digital Service Officer at the Etisalat Group said: "Etisalat is committed to harnessing the power of mobile connectivity through innovation to develop services that change people's lives for the better. Etisalat's commitment solutions that enable people, businesses and governments to take charge of their future will, in turn, lead to accelerated social and economic development."

In the near future, NFC-enabled smartphones sold by Etisalat will come with a NFC-enabled SIM card. Existing customers will be able to update their cards in stores.

Etisalat is aiming to extend its future mobile wallet service beyond payments to include couponing and loyalty solutions.

Visit Etisalat and Wirecard at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (25 - 28 February 2013) at booth CS OV-2, Hall 2, 2B110 or 7F03.