Canadian project aims to stir take-up of NFC services

Canada is seeing a fresh push to promote near field communication (NFC) services after a joint venture between the nation’s three largest mobile operators signed a deal with Canadian cooperative financial group Desjardin and mobile money solutions provider Monitise.

Under the terms of the partnership EnStream, a joint venture between Canadian operators Telus, Bell and Rogers, will act as the trusted service manager (TSM) to facilitate NFC payments. A TSM is typically a third party that will validate a user’s application to spend funds, and that the user has the money in their account to purchase the product or service.

Monitise will provide the NFC-enabled mobile payment application; the technology will allow Desjardins members and clients to make purchases at Canadian retailers using their smartphone.

“With our banking industry expertise, we are helping Desjardins expand its mobile offer by developing a cutting-edge contactless payment solution,” said Lisa Stanton, president of Americas for Monitise. “The delivery of NFC capabilities for Desjardins highlights our continued momentum in expanding our offering in the areas of payments and commerce, cementing the role of the financial institution at the centre of the mobile money ecosystem.”

The solution will be launched in 2014 and according to Desjardin, is the first step towards enhancing its mobile payment offering. The development of the solution is in line with the Canadian mobile payment guidelines announced in May 2012 by Desjardins and other Canadian banks, which aim to guarantee security, reliability and ease of use for merchants and consumers.