It was only last week that we reported MasterCard had introduced a certification process for NFC-enabled smartphones, now the firm is really pressing forwards and has announced the availability of the PayPass Wallet service, which acts as an umbrella for what is now an entire platform.
PayPass Wallet incorporates an online payment system, a branded service and an API, allowing developers to integrate service features into their own products. You can imagine this service as being akin to Amazon 1-click, where payment and even shipping details are remembered in a secure server ready for use in online or contactless payments where PayPass has been integrated either through the use of first-party hardware or software incorporating the API; likewise, the API can be used to join existing wallet and card services to the PayPass network.
MasterCard hopes to make the PayPass Wallet service, along with an official Android app, available in the UK, US, Canada and Australia in the third quarter of this year, with other localities to follow shortly thereafter.
