Vodafone Germany has debuted a new mobile wallet including the Vodafone SmartPass Visa payment application.
The Wirecard Group will manage technology and other services, such as issuing plastic and digital Visa cards for the wallet. The wallet is being launched in Dusseldorf, where there are about 800 Near Field Communication acceptance points, and will deploy across Germany in the first quarter of 2014.
Customers with an NFC-enabled smartphone can receive a SIM card to make payments at all Visa-certified terminals. Owners of non-NFC phones can attach as SmartPass NFC sticker.
"We have created the best possible conditions for ensuring that mobile payment can soon be entirely integrated in everyday life for everyone," says Frank Vahldiek, director of consumer services and innovations at Vodafone Germany, in a Dec. 13 press release.
Visa and Vodafone have also launched a mobile wallet in other markets, including
