Published on the 14/06/2013 | Written by Newsdesk

VeriFone Mobile Money solutions has won the Global Telecom Business (GTB) Award for Consumer Service Innovation. VeriFone Mobile Money is a joint venture between VeriFone, the global leader in secure electronic payment solutions, and Mobilis Networks, to provide complete mobile money solutions designed to meet the needs of mobile operators for telco-based money transfer and payment services in emerging markets.

The award recognises in particular the delivery of VeriFone Mobile Money’s retail enablement and mobile financial services platforms integrated to mobile network operator Digicel’s ‘Beep and Go’ wallet solution in the Pacific Islands, as well as the work the company is doing globally with banks and mobile service providers.

Chris Jones a director of VeriFone Mobile Money and founder of Mobilis Networks said, “Together Digicel and VeriFone Mobile Money have delivered to Digicel’s customers a world first. The solution goes beyond the wallet to deliver people in the Pacific Islands the ability to conduct a full suite of financial transactions through their mobile device. These services include mobile payment, airtime top-up, loyalty and promotions coupled with mobile banking and international remittance between their families across the globe. The solution utilises VeriFone Mobile Money’s unique implementation of NFC at the point of sale, coupled with the use of VeriFone Mobile Money’s biometric security solution.”

A media release says the solution is “believed to be a world first” as it integrates ubiquitous NFC (the solution does not require a smartphone or smart application) and biometric identification at the point of sale to deliver a speedy, hassle free solution enabling the customer to conduct secure financial transactions quickly and efficiently through their mobile device of choice.

The demand for mobile payments is increasing and research company Ovum predicts that the total number of mobile money stored accounts will reach 1.1 billion by 2017 across 30 countries.

The Global Telecoms Business Awards recognises the world’s most innovative telecoms projects and celebrate collaboration between leading operators and vendors.

In presenting the Innovation Award to Verifone, Mobilis and Digicel, Alan Burkitt-Gray, editor of Global Telecoms Business, commented, “This is the seventh time we’ve run our Innovation Awards and each year we’ve seen that the industry is working harder and harder to deliver exciting and innovative services to its customers worldwide.

Congratulations to all the award winners. The industry is seeing a wave of innovation, which is making a huge difference — to the companies working in the industry and to all of us in business and as consumers. They are making such a difference to the world. We want to celebrate what they are doing.”