Dear Readers,
Last week kicked off with the mighty splash of Deutsche Telekom finally jumping right into the mobile wallet space with both feet instead of the rather tepid advances they have made over the past 18 months through 'relationships', joint ventures and a decidedly 'wait and see' attitude.
The announcement that they are partnering with MasterCard and are looking to bring forward a wallet that will include everything from QR codes to full-blown NFC mobile payments is welcome news (http://wp.me/p1Jrjn-II). Throw in the fact that they will also be issuing plastic cards, and NFC-stickers as well as NFC-enabled SIM cards – all connected to one account – and this looks like a winner - despite the 'are you an MNO or a bank?' questions from the German business journos, some if them quite the mobile payment virgins. But what do you expect, NFC penetration in Germany is still only around 1% (based on capable POS) with no visions of it rising for at least another 24 - 36 months. Which is why Deutsch Telekom are willing to jump into the small retail hardware POS space (à la Square with their payment dongle etc) and use their considerable muscle to make sure retailers will be in a position to take contactless payments in the near future. For now though, Telekom is focusing on Poland as their payment stalking horse.
Deutsche Telekom even went so far as to say that they were talking to Google - but to be honest, and having seen the management and marketing guys actually answering the questions, I think this was more a 'we don't want to look as though we are ruling anything out' kind of answer. Although partnering up with Google may not be a good thing as is pointed out here (http://bit.ly/NsYD55 ). With 'churn' reduction becoming more and more important as margins get slimmer and slimmer, Google may be too expensive to have as a partner.
Telekom was not the only MNO announcing a partnership with a credit card company last week. Telefónica Digital and Visa Europe announced the agreement on a wide ranging strategic partnership to drive new business opportunities within mobile commerce across Telefónica’s European 'footprint'. The partnership will see both companies co-invest in the development of innovative products and services in areas such as mobile wallet, contactless payments (NFC), acquirer services for mobile point of sale, and merchant offers. The agreement builds on Telefónica and Visa Europe’s existing relationship in markets such as the UK and Ireland, formalising it at a Europe-wide level and establishing Visa Europe as Telefónica’s preferred partner for the issuance of branded payments cards and the development of related mobile payment services (http://wp.me/p1Jrjn-Jm).
As the lines between banks, mobile network providers, issuers and so on become more and more inter-twined I expect we shall more of these announcement in the coming months.
Some final bits and pieces: This month will see RIM sponsoring our very own Intelligence Quiz and up for grabs is an NFC-enabled BlackBerry BOLD 9900. the Intelligence starts on the 13th July and will continue for ten days. Look out for other ways to enter - not just through Facebook this time! And to finish - remember, we have a new LinkedIn group on, well, LinkedIn… called Contactless Intelligence. So if you are a LinkedIn networker please look to join us - you'd be most welcome.
Until next week.
Steve Atkins
Contactless Intelligence
Featured on C-ITV this week
Payments & m-Commerce
Google wallet UK imminent? http://bit.ly/KQqSZd
Mobile Payments Growth May Require New Rules, CFPB Official Says http://buswk.co/KODYpI
Secupay launches m-payment pilot project in Dresden http://bit.ly/KODUWZ
2ergo rolls out TikTap contactless payment concept http://bit.ly/KODT5t
NFC mobile payments: A Case for Developing Markets http://bit.ly/KODMqC
NAB no clearer on mobile payment strategy http://bit.ly/KQr8Ye
Hungary may amend law for operating m-payment system http://bit.ly/Lx20Y9
Google working with banks to test new Wallet APIs; UK launch rumoured http://bit.ly/Lx22Pu
Deutsche Telekom in Talks With Google on Mobile Payments? http://buswk.co/Lx1WHU
UK consumers not sold on 'contactless' mobile payments http://bit.ly/Lx1M3c
Megafon to launch mobile payments app http://bit.ly/NaySIC
CommBank Kaching gives Australians more ways to bank on more smartphones http://bit.ly/NaznlR
Contactless payments since 1926 http://bit.ly/NayYjd
Why carriers will (not) partner with Google Wallet http://bit.ly/NsYD55
NFC & Mobile
Sydney picks NFC and QR codes to guide visitors around The Rocks http://bit.ly/KQqWYQ
Google Android Near Field Communication (NFC) is limited, says CommBank http://bit.ly/NGGizm
Germany slow to start but is this the beginning? Mobile phones replace wallets too http://bit.ly/NGGej9
Transportation, Ticketing & Loyalty
Oyster Card-style plan for Bradford buses http://bit.ly/KODNLa
Ireland: New travel smartcard fails to make the Leap with commuters http://bit.ly/KQrduS
London 2012 Olympics: £10.25 million spent on free Oyster cards for the Games http://bit.ly/Lx24XH
Bolton, UK: Drive to give town its own ‘Oyster card’ http://bit.ly/NayVny
China Bank, Mabuhay Taxi ink deal for cashless cab fare payments http://bit.ly/NGGjU2
Other News & Opinion Articles
Ingenico and Chase Paymentech Bring EMV, NFC and Point-of-Sale Payment Options to U.S. Customers http://bit.ly/KQriP7
AngelPrime backs mobile POS payment company Ezetap http://bit.ly/KQrkXe
Poor marketing communications prohibiting mobile payment success? http://bit.ly/NaySrZ
Smart Card Maker Morpho Acquires TSM Cassis International http://bit.ly/NayRV2
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