MasterCard International has formed an alliance with Motorola Inc. to collaborate on research and marketing for mobile commerce.
The companies said they would work together on certain research and development projects to ensure interoperability between MasterCard's electronic payment systems and Motorola's wireless devices and platforms.
The alliance includes Europay International, MasterCard's European affiliate, which will work with Motorola to promote mobile commerce in Europe.
Purchase, N.Y.-based MasterCard has been pursuing alliances with a variety of technology companies to develop wireless payment products, and last month formed the Global Mobile Commerce Interoperability Group to develop payment standards for wireless devices. Motorola is a member.
"MasterCard's partnerships with leading IT companies will provide our member financial institution's customers the most advanced mobile technologies available now and in the future," said Christopher Jarman, senior vice president of mobile commerce at MasterCard.
The companies said they will work together to adapt MasterCard's M/Chip integrated credit and debit chip technology and to modify the Mondex electronic cash payment system to work over wireless devices.Motorola, of Schaumburg, Ill., said the ability to work with MasterCard's member banks would help it gain faster acceptance of commerce uses for its wireless devices.
Janiece Webb, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola's personal networks group, said mobile commerce will change the way people live.
"Imagine being on a business trip and receiving notification via your mobile phone that your flight has been canceled," Ms. Webb said. "With m-commerce you will be able to find another flight and charge a new airline ticket all via your mobile phone, which is now also a mobile Internet device."
