BNP Paribas Fortis and Belgacom have outlined plans for a mobile wallet they say will bring in-app commerce to Belgium's merchants and consumers.
Working with Accenture, the bank and telco say that they will build a wallet that integrates mobile payments, virtual ticketing, e-couponing and loyalty programmes with convenience and security.
A pilot is slated for later this year ahead of a commercial roll out next spring. The wallet is based on an open eco-system and is accessible to any smartphone user with a bank or credit card from any Belgian bank and a mobile data plan from any mobile operator.
Accenture, will offer five components to merchants and developers, who can integrate them into any mobile app. Core components deal with mobile identity, security and the link to payment sources, starting with BNP Paribas Fortis' recently announced MasterPass. Other modules take care of delivery and storage of tickets and coupons, and of the link with loyalty programmes.
Peter Vandekerckhove, MD, BNP Paribas Fortis, says: "By bundling the payment module with a range of value added services such as ticketing, e-couponing and loyalty programmes, we are convinced of the benefits our solution will bring to both merchants and consumers."