Fime today announces that its EMEA testing laboratory, in France, has been accredited by MasterCard to offer functional testing to mobile payment solution providers and payment issuers developing applications based on the MasterCard Cloud Based Payments (MCBP) specifications.
The global market for HCE and cloud-based payments is booming. The respective launches of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay have stimulated the mobile payments market; over 45 projects have been announced to date with more in the preparatory stages.
By leveraging its expertise in NFC mobile payments and tokenization, FIME is working closely with the developers of innovative cloud-based solutions. Currently, FIME is working on seven host card emulation (HCE) and tokenization MCBP application testing and certification projects around the world, each of which is being supported by FIME’s newly accredited lab.
Arnaud Peninon, Vice President, Global Laboratories at FIME, comments: “FIME enables solution providers to complete all of their application testing requirements via a single specialist partner. In order to make their services available to as many different handsets as possible, many have begun to develop both secure element and cloud-based versions of their solutions. To bring these to market as quickly and efficiently as possible they need a comprehensive testing partner with deep technical knowledge of each deployment model. FIME plays this role, for both cloud-based payment solutions providers and payment issuers.”
In order to further accelerate HCE and tokenization testing processes, FIME also announces today a suite of training and consultancy services designed to help solution providers and payment issuers that are developing new cloud-based mobile payment services.
“FIME is tailoring how it engages with each solution provider to ensure we support them in the most appropriate way,” adds Peninon. “Some request high-level guidance on how to approach the whole business of cloud-based payments with HCE and tokenization. Others want to assess and validate their solution. For these providers we offer a bespoke blend of technical consultancy and training to help them achieve their objectives.”
FIME is also working to introduce a MCBP qualified application test tool in early 2016 which will further expedite the certification process by pre-validating their applications before going to the laboratory for testing.
MCBP specifications create a foundation for rapid global deployments of mobile payment services. The approach simplifies and speeds the deployment process of contactless mobile offerings for card-issuing financial institutions and other solution providers.