NFC Rumors

mpass: German mobile network operators launch NFC payments joint venture

mpass: German mobile network operators launch NFC payments joint venture

Telefónica Germany, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone have announced a joint venture under the brand mpass that will bring NFC payments to Germany in early 2012 using NFC stickers and then transition to NFC phones.

Another day, another European country announces a mobile network operator NFC payments joint venture - this time it’s called mpass and has been announced for Germany. Again, Vodafone, Telefónica and Deutsche Telekom (The Three Musketeers) have come together as they have with all other European joint ventures for NFC payments in Germany. Same old gang, same old mission - to control and own NFC payments in another European market and prevent rivals from entering the market. The three companies have signed a letter of understanding to combine their networks to form mpass, which will facilitate and act as a trusted service manager for all three networks. We are starting to wonder if we shouldn’t just write up a quick post for each European country now that doesn’t have a “joint venture” announced and just change the dates, because at this point, it really isn’t all new joint ventures or collaborations, it is merely three companies’ efforts to control the European continent’s NFC payments.

The mpass service is due to go live in early 2012 and will initially work with NFC stickers and then later transition to NFC phones when they become more widely owned by German consumers. The use of NFC stickers is a newer approach that will allow mpass to get into the market sooner and then consolidate its position later with NFC phones.

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