An Update on MasterCard's Mobile Partner Program

"Cooperation on the part of technology companies is critical to a robust mobile payments eco-system, as the trend toward mobility persists on a global scale. We are proud to be at the heart of this eco-system by facilitating relationships that will continue to advance the growth of mobile payments," said Art Kranzley, Chief Emerging Technology Officer, MasterCard Worldwide. "The MasterCard Mobile Partner Program allows us to promote innovation in the mobile channel by developing tools that enable mobile financial services on a global basis."

Participants in the MasterCard Mobile Partner Program have expressed enthusiasm with the program and its momentum continues.

"At Firethorn, we value our relationship with MasterCard. MasterCard understands that to advance the development of a secure and accessible mobile payments system for consumers, the development of the mobile payments space requires transformation and growth in the converging communications, Internet, mobile device and payments industries," said Tripp Rackley, CEO, Firethorn Holdings, LLC, a Qualcomm company. "Firethorn's participation in the MasterCard Mobile Partner Program allows us to easily and conveniently collaborate with MasterCard and its key partners to drive the evolution of mobile payments forward and propel the growth and delivery of smart technologies to our customers.

"With a long history of partnership to provide PayPass M/Chip-based mobile payment solution, Oberthur's participation in MasterCard's Mobile Partner Program is allowing us to expand our relationships within the industry to advance the development and implementation of secure mobile payment technologies," said Frederic Chevreton Corporate Vice-President - Payment Product Line, Oberthur Technologies. "It is crucial for us to collaborate across all industries to cultivate the mobile payments environment and we are committed to working with all of the partners to ensure that our technologies are integrated seamlessly to continue to advance growth around the world."

"As co-inventor of the NFC technology and leading vendor of NFC chips, NXP is committed to further broadening and strengthening the ecosystem for contactless mobile applications along with other key industry partners," said Heikki Huomo, vice president, general manager, NFC, NXP Semiconductors. "The MasterCard Mobile Partner Program provides a solid foundation for facilitating the collaboration between technology vendors, handset manufacturers and service providers in order to create exciting new mobile payment services for consumers and value for all stakeholders."

"Gemalto maintains its commitment to collaboration on contactless payment deployments around the world as a trusted third party, offering services designed to easily and securely manage contactless applications in a mobile environment," added Jerome Sion, Director of Mobile Contactless at Gemalto. "Being a member of the MasterCard Mobile Partner Program enables Gemalto to actively support the mass deployment of these new innovative services that will transform the day-to-day life of consumers everywhere."

The MasterCard Mobile Partner Program seeks to engage all players in the mobile payments space. Current participants in the program include, for example:

• Mobile Financial Services Providers: Affinity Global Services, Firethorn Holdings, LLC, Obopay and ViVOtech.
• Mobile Handset Manufacturers: Sagem Mobiles.
• Systems/Processing Providers: 3PEA International, ACI Worldwide, Jware Technologies, Postillion, Printec S.A., and Transact Network Limited.
• POS and Terminal Systems Providers: Apriva, and WAY Systems.
• Service, Development and Consultancies: Cryptomathic, Proxama, MULTOS International, Simbos Oy, and syngenio AG.
• SmartCard/Personalization/Chip Providers: Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, NXP Semiconductors, Oberthur Technologies, Sagem Orga, and Trueb AG.
• Testing and Simulator Providers: Barnes International Limited, GALITT, Integri and TUV Product Service.

For a list of participating members, visit the MasterCard Mobile Partner Program website at: http://www.mastercard-mobilepartner.com

MasterCard Mobile Partner Program Benefits

By joining the MasterCard Mobile Partner Program at http://www.mastercard-mobilepartner.com, members receive preferential access to MasterCard publications, including new trial and pilot activity reports, white papers, best practice guides, and events that bring partners together in locations around the world. Members can also license products from the suite of the MasterCard Mobile Program to offer to banks, mobile network operators, direct to consumer, or manage services on behalf of MasterCard. In addition, members can offer existing services, tested by MasterCard and strengthened by the MasterCard brand.