EPC Newsletter
Issue 1 - January 2009
SEPA for Mobile
SEPA goes mobileEPC enables SEPA payments across 32 countries via a cell phone
22.01.09 By Dag-Inge Flatraaker
Anticipating changing customer habits and fostering innovation in payments, the EPC is now developing mobile channels for the initiation and receipt of SEPA credit transfers, direct debits and card payments. The usage of the mobile phone empowers customers to make SEPA payments in a convenient, speedy and controlled manner. In close cooperation with other service providers the EPC M-Channel Expert Group is now in the process of defining the basic requirements, rules and standards necessary to execute payments across 31 SEPA countries using a cell phone. The aim of this cross-industry initiative is to create interoperability of associated services delivered by different players in the mobile payments market.
***Scroll to the end of the page and post a comment.
EPC and mobile network operators join forces
In June 2008, the EPC and GSMA, the global trade association representing the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) community, launched a mutual project to support the further development of mobile banking services leveraging both the existing SEPA infrastructure and the infrastructure set up by mobile network operators. A key feature needed to allow banks and mobile operators to provide payments services via a cell phone is the "Trusted Service Manager" (TSM). More specifically, the TSM facilitates the distribution, configuration and activation of the bank's payment application on the UICC within bank customers' NFC handsets (their mobile phone). UICC stands for the Universal Integrated Circuit Card, also known as a SIM card. NFC refers to Near Field Communications - a contact-less technology that enables data to be transmitted wirelessly over very short distances, for example between a mobile phone and a card payments terminal at the check-out of a retailer. The GSMA, through its Pay-Buy-Mobile initiative, and the EPC incidentally focus on defining requirements and specifications regarding the role of a Trusted Service Manager interfacing with banks and mobile operators.
EPC and GSMA are convinced that this cross-industry cooperation represents the best way forward to efficiently avail the mobile as a means of initiating SEPA payments. The approach chosen by EPC and GSMA might eventually serve as a model regarding the development of mobile payment services in other parts of the world, e.g the goal is to approach standardisation in the area of mobile payments based on a global perspective at an early stage.
Defining the M-Channel Roadmap
Going forward, the EPC will further detail the m-payments strategy with a view to design an M-Channel Roadmap spelling out priorities and milestones. At the same time, EPC seeks to collaborate with key organisations in the mobile payments market including MobeyForum, GlobalPlatform, EMVCo and the NFC Forum. The EPC newsletter will deliver regular updates on the progress of creating mobile channels for SEPA payments.
Dag-Inge Flatraaker is the Chair of the EPC M-Channel Expert Group. If you wish to obtain further information, please contact the EPC Secretariat (e-mail to secretariat@europeanpaymentscouncil.eu).
Article19
Other articles in this issue
22.01.09 Update EPC Plenary Meetings - Main decisions taken in December 2008 By Herman Segers 22.01.09 SEPA Schemes: EPC approves Release Schedule - Predictable release cycle ensures planning security By Herman Segers 22.01.09 New EPC Publications available - Everything you always wanted to know about SEPA By Meral Ruesing 22.01.09 SEPA for Cards: From Vision to Reality - EPC takes forward its Cards Standardisation Programme By Francis Geets 22.01.09 Less is more: one Standard for Customer-to-Bank Communication - EPC approves updated Implementation Guidelines for the initiation of SEPA payments By Bettina Schönfeld, Esther Uyehara and Ingo Beyritz 22.01.09 The SEPA Highway for E-Payments*** - Make electronic payments from your current account across 32 countries By John Holsberg 22.01.09 Seeking common Ground - EPC advocates consistent implementation of the Payment Services Directive (PSD) By Ruth Wandhöfer 22.01.09 New Rules on cross-border Payments - Outlook on the revision of EU Regulation 2560/2001 By Séverine Anciberro 22.01.09 Cheer up: SEPA is on Track and open for Business - Market uptake is in line with roll-out of any major EU integration initiative By Herman Segers 22.01.09 Financial Crisis - SEPA can be part of the solution By Charlie McCreevy 22.01.09 Facing the Facts - The EPC Newsletter tracks SEPA progress By Herman Segers 22.01.09 Bring the Prophet to the Mountain - How to convince corporate customers of the benefits SEPA holds for them By Gerard Hartsink 22.01.09 Tomorrow is another Day - SEPA Survey 2008: corporate community lacks sense of SEPA urgency By Taco de Vries and Eddy Ouwendijk 22.01.09 Ready, willing and able? - The corporate View on SEPA Implementation An interview with Olivier Brissaud 22.01.09 Secure and convenient: the E-Mandate Solution - The SEPA Core Direct Debit Scheme now features electronic authorisation of payments By John Holsberg 22.01.09 The SEPA Direct Debit Mandate - you will just love it - EPC provides guidance on the creation of easy-to-use SEPA mandate forms By Meral Ruesing 22.01.09 New SCT Features meet key corporate Requirements - Updated SEPA Credit Transfer Scheme Rulebook goes live in February 2009 By Christian Westerhaus 22.01.09 Keep up the good Work - Banks offering SCT services: you in particular want to read this article By Andrew Bolton
Comments
If you would like to comment on this article, please use the box under the headline 'Add New Comment' below. Please identify yourself with your first and last name. Please note that your name will appear next to your comment. Email addresses will not be published. Please note that by accessing or contributing to the discussion you agree to abide by the EPC Newsletter Terms and Conditions, so please read them carefully before doing so.
To receive notification when a new comment is added to this specific discussion, please subscribe to get updates by email or RSS using the links below. (These links are not available on the mobile version of the EPC Website, to subscribe by email or RSS, please visit the standard version of the EPC Website).
