Visa expands m-payment services via Android, Nokia

Electronic payment services giant Visa said it plans to make mobile payment services broadly available to U.S. consumers by year's end, announcing a series of new initiatives including efforts to develop mobile applications for Google's fledgling Android mobile platform in addition to a similar agreement with handset maker Nokia. According to Visa, the Android apps will enable Chase Visa cardholders to receive mobile notifications following transaction activity on their accounts, obtain offers from merchants and employ Android's built-in LBS technology to pinpoint nearby merchants where they may redeem Visa offers and locate ATMs that accept Visa. The company will also develop a payment application to enable cardholders to make mobile payments in retail locations nationwide or on the go.

Visa also said it will deliver services including contactless payments, remote payments, money transfer, alerts and notifications for Nokia handsets, beginning with the Nokia 6212 Classic. During the scheduled trial, consumers with Nokia 6212 classic and a relationship with a participating Visa issuing bank may use their phone to pay for goods and services, initiate mobile money transfers to fellow Visa account holders, receive near real-time alerts of account activity and opt in to receive merchant offers and discounts.

In addition, Visa will partner with U.S. Bank to introduce a mobile money transfer pilot program allowing cardholders in the U.S. to send funds directly to another registered Visa customer account. The pilot, which is intended to begin by the end of 2008, represents the first U.S.-based trial testing mobile money transfers between Visa accounts.

For more on Visa's Android plans:
- read this release [1]
For more on Visa's Nokia partnership:
- read this release [2]

Related articles:
Visa [3], Chase charge into mobile marketing effort
Visa [4] debuts real-time mobile transaction alerts