The Portuguese Government is planning to offer its citizens the possibility of using mobile phones to make payments for various types of services. With this goal in mind, the Minister for Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications, announced that this year will initiate talks with banks and telecommunications operators. The investment for this project, which will give a new functions to mobile phones, is still being analysed, but the main benefits have already been listed: the increase of competition, satisfaction of users, modernization of processes and innovation. Also in the mobile telecommunications area, the Government also wants to guarantee coverage of the GSM network in all maritime, terrestrial and aerial public transport. This project is being coordinated by the Ministry in collaboration with the transport operators and will initially be active in the Greater Lisbon area. Technology is the common denominator of the projects, with an investment of EUR 4.4 million, according to Minister Mário Lino. Every Portuguese citizen will have an e-mail address, a project which also counts on the extensive distribution network of CTT and should be implemented next year. The Government also wants to create an electronic identification system for vehicles, announcing by the end of the year a tender for the choice of the most appropriate technology. All of the tenders for the contracts and acquisition of services and projects will be made in electronic form.
