E-Plus Plans Mobile Wallet in Germany

German carrier E-Plus Gruppe plans to give Near Field Communication payments a boost with a mobile wallet that also uses QR codes for redeeming loyalty points and discount vouchers.

The wallet will launch in the second quarter of 2014 and will be open to various card issuers, but will debut with a MasterCard Maestro debit card issued through Wirecard Bank, a unit of technology provider Wirecard.

The Maestro card will be sent after the user registers through the mobile app, E-Plus says in a press release.

Consumers can use the wallet for NFC payments at any of 30,000 contactless terminals in Germany. The E-Plus Wallet app will provide a locator map of available merchants who accept NFC payments and will provide special offers. The app also lets users monitor transactions in real time.

Gettings and Acardo Group will incorporate the location-based coupon service, while Corfire and Giesecke & Devrient supply the NFC technology for the new wallet.

Munich-based Giesecke & Devrient last month revealed its multi-app SIM card, which can operate several NFC applications simultaneously.

Atlanta-based Corfire opened a London office a year ago to expand its mobile commerce services in Europe. Corfire operates as a unit of South Korea-based SK C&C USA.

Separately, mobile app developer It-Werke Service GMBA developed mobile payment technology for use in German taxis, at golf courses and beer gardens during the summer.