Deutsche Telekom has unveiled its mobile payment service based on NFC called Mobile Wallet. The first services will be launched this year. Mobile Wallet will offer future services in the field of mobile payment both for Deutsche Telekom's own services, as well as those of third parties, such as banks, transport companies and event organizers. Ed Kozel, Deutsche Telekom chief strategy officer, said the company expects this to be the year of mobile payments, when a number of experiments are planned to develop the business model. From 2012, the services are expected to gain critical mass, and a broad and deep deployment is planned. In the US, Deutsche Telekom is working through Isis, a joint venture with AT&T and Verizon for mobile payments. In Europe, it plans to start the first NFC services on a common platform in Germany and Poland in 2011. In 2012, NFC services will be introduced in The Netherlands and the Czech Republic, and more countries will follow. Deutsche Telekom is already working with other mobile operators such as Vodafone and O2 on the joint payment system mpass in Germany. A contactless ticket system for stadium access for the European Football Championship in 2012 is also planned. In The Netherlands, Deutsche Telekom is cooperating with two mobile operators and three banks to bring a joint solution for mobile payment to market. The company is working with Samsung to develop handsets for the NFC services, Kozel said.
