French bank Caisse d´Epargne has selected Paris-listed Atos Origin to manage its new movo service which enables customers to transfer funds using SMS text messages.
The movo service will initially be offered to Caisse d´Epargne's current account customers but will eventually be extended to all bank account holders.
After registering, online customers can use the mobile service to transfer funds via SMS to anybody with a bank account.
Under its agreement with the bank, the vendor's Atos Worldline subsidiary will handle processing of incoming data flows via SMS+ and interactive voice response (IVR) and manage the payment process.
News of the Caisse d´Epargne deal came as Atos Origin halved its 2006 target for underlying revenue growth after reporting a 1.3% dip in third quarter sales.
Revenues for the three months ended September 30 fell to EUR1.28 billion from EUR1.29 billion in the same period last year.
The group said its third quarter was hit by a further decline in revenues in the UK.
The firm is currently reviewing its structure and organisation in order to improve its growth capabilities and operational efficiency.
Rumours surfaced earlier this month that the vendor was in talks to be taken over by US private equity firm Blackstone in a deal worth around EUR3.6 billion. However Atos CEO Bernard has dismissed the speculation and told reporters that there are currently no active discussions "which could be considered an agreement or justify any announcement to the market".