Nokia Money due to launch soon

Nokia is attempting to create a multi-bank, multi-operator and multi-device collaboration on mobile banking.
Nokia’s mobile banking and payment service is expected to be commercially available in its first market in Q1 2010, though no location details have been revealed yet.
According to Teppo Paavola, vice president, GM mobile financial services, Nokia cannot reveal any details until a banking partner is confirmed. It is learnt that the service requires a banking license before it can be launched.
Nokia said its target is to have 300 million active users of its services by the end of 2011; the number is expected to be 80 million by the end of 2009.
Paavola said the service will enable un-banked people in emerging markets to transfer money, top up prepaid mobile services, pay bills, carry out online transactions, and pay merchants.
Global mobile payments market is expected to be worth €18 billion by 2014 – €12 billion from emerging markets and €6 billion from developed markets.
Approaches to mobile banking so far have lacked scale and have not worked across operators and across banks.
Nokia therefore plans to drive the collaboration on an open financial ecosystem, with Nokia Money at its core. Paavola added that it has taken a long time to get all the players together, from banks through to mobile operators.
The Nokia Money application will not only be pre-loaded but could be sideloaded, or downloaded later.
Nokia will also be able to provide the physical distribution channel that is critical for the service to work. For example, Nokia handset sellers can be turned into Nokia Money agents, providing the devices, the application, and the ability to handle cash.

Nokia is attempting to create a multi-bank, multi-operator and multi-device collaboration on mobile banking, a service dubbed Nokia Money.

Nokia’s mobile banking and payment service is expected to be commercially available in its first market in Q1 2010, though no location details have been revealed yet.

According to Teppo Paavola, vice president, GM mobile financial services, Nokia cannot reveal any details until a banking partner is confirmed. It is learnt that the service requires a banking license before it can be launched.

Nokia said its target is to have 300 million active users of its services by the end of 2011.

Paavola said the service will enable un-banked people in emerging markets to transfer money, top up prepaid mobile services, pay bills, carry out online transactions, and pay merchants.

Global mobile payments market is expected to be worth €18 billion by 2014 – €12 billion from emerging markets and €6 billion from developed markets.

Approaches to mobile banking so far have lacked scale and have not worked across operators and across banks.  Nokia therefore plans to drive the collaboration on an open financial ecosystem, with Nokia Money at its core.

The Nokia Money application will not only be pre-loaded but could be sideloaded, or downloaded later.

Nokia will also be able to provide the physical distribution channel that is critical for the service to work. For example, Nokia handset sellers can be turned into Nokia Money agents, providing the devices, the application, and the ability to handle cash.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Nationwide prepaid cell phone service provider Page Plus Cellular announced a new unlimited text messaging plan which can be added on to a customer’s voice plan for $19.95 a month. The new Power Text Unlimited plan can be bundled with Page Plus’ Standard voice plan to give customers the ability to send and receive unlimited domestic text messages. The plan will be available August 26th.

Despite all the recent buzz in the prepaid wireless industry over unlimited-everything plans, including Page Plus’ own $39.95 a month Unlimited Talk n Text plan announced earlier this month, unlimited text messaging makes a perfect choice for certain subscribers.
CFO Dean McDowell explained, “Text messaging has actually become the preferred method of communication for many people today, both young and old. With this add-on text plan, those who text a lot yet do not need unlimited voice or data service can save money compared to the unlimited-everything plans. It fits the usage pattern of certain people and gives them a lower-cost option.”

Page Plus offers its Standard voice plans starting at $10 for 83 minutes, and only requires replenishment every 120 days, making the cost-per-month for low-minute users around $3 a month. With the new Power Text Unlimited plan added on to Standard voice, it is now possible to have unlimited text messaging for under $25 a month.

Page Plus Cellular is a prepaid cell phone service provider with nationwide coverage on America’s largest and most reliable wireless network. Page Plus is consistently ranked among the top prepaid service providers for low rates, flexible plans and exceptional customer service. Page Plus prepaid cell phones and service plans are available through its large national network of dealers, and on its website at www.pagepluscellular.com.

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