Austrian mobile payments group reveals new Wallet Initiative

A group of Austria's leading banks, card payment providers and related companies have joined forces to create the Austria Card 'Wallet Initiative' in order to create an open, nationwide standard for mobile wallets. The aim of the standard is to help consumers make contactless payments with their mobile phones via a mobile card as well as enabling them to use special offers by simply tapping their phone at the checkout, in much the same way they would use loyalty cards, vouchers, and coupons.
October 31, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A group of Austria's leading banks, card payment providers and related companies have joined forces to create the Austria Card 'Wallet Initiative' in order to create an open, nationwide standard for mobile wallets.

The aim of the standard is to help consumers make contactless payments with their mobile phones via a mobile card as well as enabling them to use special offers by simply tapping their phone at the checkout, in much the same way they would use loyalty cards, vouchers, and coupons. MasterCard and Visa payments are also integrated.

The group has conducted its first tests of the near field communication (NFC)-based standard, is running a nationwide pilot project during late 2013 and aims to be market-ready in 2014. The standard is expected to be accepted across a wide range of different providers and sectors including retail, transport, ticketing, security and banking.

Mobile network operators will also offer a secure NFC-SIM card option. Members of the initiative include Austria Card, Card Complete, Drei, Erste Bank, First Data Austria, MasterCard, Nexperts, PayLife Bank, T-Mobile and Visa.

Related Content

  • GMV to provide account-based ticketing for Cyprus buses
    November 16, 2023
    Company will build on existing smart card system on 750 vehicles
    Read More
  • Machine vision needs standards to fulfil ITS demands
    May 28, 2014
    No-one should expect the enabling qualities of machine vision to come free of charge but Jason Barnes finds there is still much that ITS stakeholders can do to help reduce costs. After many years of application in high-end solutions for the enforcement and tolling sectors, machine vision is gaining traction in more general areas of traffic management. Nevertheless, those OEMs producing transport-oriented solutions which incorporate machine vision and looking to increase the technology’s share of the ITS mar
    Read More
  • Robin Chase interview: Heaven and hell
    June 13, 2018
    A shared vision - or even much of a conversation at all - about what a better mobility balance looks like has been lacking…until now. Andrew Stone speaks to Zipcar founder Robin Chase about fairness – and the importance of not demonising cars
    Read More
  • Tolling: it’s time to open up
    May 24, 2023
    Europe sees more and more tolling schemes being implemented based on GNSS technology and an ‘open marketplace’ model. What are the drivers behind this trend and do those schemes show how toll systems will look in the future? Peter Ummenhofer of Go Consulting goes out on the road
    Read More

Highlighted Content