MasterCard has launched a facility for banks to install PayPass contactless payments functionality onto customers' mobile phones over the air.
The MasterCard Over-the-Air Provisioning Service lets issuers transfer a PayPass application onto a secure area of NFC enabled handsets via the mobile network.
Customers then personalise the application with their individual payment account details over the air.
Account holders can then make low value payments at the point of sale by swiping their phone against specially equipped terminals.
The service will be made available to consumers through their issuing banks' Web sites.
Art Kranzley, chief emerging technology officer, MasterCard Worldwide, says that mobile payments trials with banks have revealed the implementation of the service is "a challenge".
He says the new service lets issuers implement mobile payments programmes quickly, with minimal development and implementation effort and reduced up front investment.