NEW DELHI: Standard Chartered Bank in association with VISA today launched India's first mobile credit card called m-Wallet.
Currently being undertaken as a pilot project amongst select Manhattan customers in Bangalore and Mumbai, the industry first secure mobile credit card m-Wallet aims at making shopping easier for people on the move, enabling them to pay for purchases from select outlets using their mobile phones.
Designed to make contact less payments, this new service, using an inbuilt PKI security and JAVA based technology, has been developed by a team of global technology experts using the best security technology standards to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the card holder's account information. Available free of cost, customers have to download and install a JAVA application using GPRS on their mobile phone. After installation of the application software on the mobile phone the user has to download a virtual Manhattan card on to the mobile.
The m-Wallet technology has been developed through a strategic alliance between Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) and C-SAM Inc, known for bringing innovative payment solutions to the banking and financial services sector. TCS has a strong relationship with Standard Chartered and with this new initiative; TCS has once again demonstrated its capability to offer unique and innovative solution to its clients.
According to chief information officer and group head, technology & operations, Standard Chartered Group Jan Verplancke,, "This is a business innovation which builds on the advances that have happened in technology. By providing our customers with a payment wallet in their mobile phones, we empower them with the capability to pay for their goods and services electronically while on the move. This product is also aligned to our young, dynamic and mobile customer base with its ever-increasing usage and builds further on our leadership position in the Cards business in the India market. Standard Chartered Bank will always look at the use of technology for innovation and investments in customer service channels."
Country manager - South Asia, Visa International Santanu Mukherjee said, "We are happy to partner with Standard Chartered Bank in the offering of 'm-Wallet'. This innovative payment solution combines the benefits of the payment card with the functionalities of the mobile device and is an evolution in the payment options available to consumers. This is yet another step towards convergence of mobile phones and payment cards and the growth of Universal Commerce - Anytime, Anywhere, Any way."
