Swedbank is the first bank to join the iAnywhere Solutions alliance, an 'always on' mobile commerce service being developed by Sybase and Ericsson.
The purpose of the alliance is to supply the market's first always available platform for mobile commerce, delivering services to wireless handsets irrespective of network uptime. Users can manage their accounts offline and have the changes implemented the next time a network connection is re-established. The system utilises Ericsson smartphones running the Epoc operating system, and Sybase iAnywhere Solutions' mobile database, UltraLite, and the synchronisation tool, MobiLink.
Ericsson and Sybase are inviting other banks to join the venture.
Swedbank was the first bank in the Nordic region to offer its customers a WAP service. The bank, together with jointly owned and independent savings banks and the subsidiary Hansabank, claims more than 900,000 Internet banking customers. Swedbank recently entered an alliance with Telia to develop secure payment services for wireless banking.
"The development of broad and practical mobile solutions implies simplicity and increased accessibility for all customers who wish to carry out their banking business via a mobile phone," says Hakan Nyberg, head of Internet banking at Swedbank.