Oberthur Technologies Selected by Airtel Africa as NFC Partner for Contactless Payments
By Oberthur Technologies, PRNESunday, February 13, 2011
2011 GSMA Award Nomination in "Best Mobile Technology for Emerging Markets" Category
NANTERRE, France, February 14, 2011 - Oberthur Technologies and Airtel Africa continue to lead the
way in innovation with the successful launch of NFC in Kenya, Tanzania and
Gabon. The launch comes hot on the heels of last years GSMA top award for
ZAP, winning `Best Mobile Money for the Unbanked Market'. Moreover, the
solution is nominated in the "Best Mobile Technology for Emerging Markets"
category for the 2011 GSMA awards.
Oberthur Technologies developed both the NFC SIM and
M-Commerce security solutions, which are to be deployed across fifteen
African affiliates, enabling mobile subscribers to pay for goods and services
with their mobile phones.
"As a pioneer of innovation in Africa, the new Airtel Africa
NFC service enhances our users' experience. The payment process was made even
simpler by waving the NFC-enabled SIM & handset in front of the payment
terminal to complete a transaction in a matter of seconds. Any non-technical
or non-experienced user can use the new service," stated George Held,
Director of Products & Innovation, Airtel Africa.
After the successful commercial launch of `Nice, NFC City',
Oberthur Technologies' NFC R&D team tailored the technology to Airtel
Africa's needs; they developed bespoke NFC applets, integrated and customised
the POS application and engineered unique NFC enablers for specific user
handsets.
"This is a landmark in Africa and the first steps of an
evolution of the payment ecosystem for mobile users, banked and unbanked,
with no compromise on security. True innovation can be realised in these
markets and we look forward to the commercial NFC launch across 12 countries
at the beginning of 2011," states Thierry Siminger, Managing Director of the
Russia, Middle East and Africa Region of the Card Systems Division of
Oberthur Technologies.
About Oberthur Technologies
With sales of 904.6 million euros in 2009 and 6,160 employees
worldwide, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure
technologies. Innovation and excellence ensure Oberthur Technologies' strong
positioning in its main target markets: security and identification solutions
and services based on smart cards; manufacture of traditional and electronic
secure identity documents; security printer specialized in the production of
banknotes, checks and numerous security documents; design and manufacture of
intelligent cash protection solutions for Cash In Transit and ATMs.
For more information: www.oberthur.com
PRESS CONTACTS Corporate: Charlotte LAFONT-MACHIN, Telephone: +33-1-55-46-71-23, Email: c.lafont-machin at oberthur.com Card Systems Division: Stephanie CAU, Telephone: +33-1-47-85-58-06, Email: s.cau at oberthur.com
Tags: February 14, France, Nanterre, Oberthur Technologies