Operator group Portugal Telecom has taken a step towards facilitating mobile payments after signing a partnership with m-commerce solutions provider Powa.

Portugal Telecom will use the vendor’s white label mobile solution mPowa to facilitate payments. The point of sale solution uses a Bluetooth Chip and PIN device that can be paired with a smartphone or tablet to process Mastercard, Visa, Amex and Visa Electron card transactions, using an on-device app.

There are ongoing talks for Portugal Telecom Group to offer the eCommerce platform to its customers and the partnership aims to bring mobile payment services to small businesses and the SOHO segment in Portugal, Brazil and markets in Africa.

Dan Wagner, chairman and CEO of mPowa, added that the service is fully customisable and will enable small businesses to tap into new opportunities.

Portugal Telecom operates in its home country through its market-leading TMN brand, and in Brazil via the Oi brand. It also has a presence in Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Timor-Leste, Angola, Kenya, São Tomé and Príncipe and China.