Germany has become the latest of an increasing number of countries in which competing mobile operators joined forces to create a common platform and standards for NFC mobile payments. The launch of the new service is expected in 2012.
Vodafone, Telefónica O2 Germany, and Telekom Deutschland — the unit of Deutsche Telekom which operates the T-Mobile network — are to launch an NFC sticker-based mobile payment solution in Germany from early 2012.
Deutsche Telekom stated that NFC is an important area for the company, and one it is introducing to the German market in a staggered approach, beginning with the NFC sticker solution which will be rolled out under the Mpass brand next year.
Mpass is an existing SMS-based mobile payment brand created by the three German mobile network operators which allows customers to make internet purchases with their mobile phones and charge the cost to their bank account.
The U.S. was among the first to follow such a path with the Isis initiative: (https://www.paymentsjournal.com/Page.aspx?id=6619 ). And in June, several UK operators teamed up as well: (http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/06/16/three.large.euro.carriers.team.up.on.nfc.payments/). The mobile industry has realized it takes more than a single operator to make NFC relevant and feasible in any market.