The EPC says that with Europeans using their handsets for an ever-growing range of tasks, the mobile channel is an "ideal launch pad for Sepa payment instruments".

Says the white paper: "The availability of practical Sepa mobile payments, either account or card-based, would provide a realistic alternative to cash and cheques".

Meanwhile for merchants, mobile payments, particularly contactless, can provide cost savings, increased business volume, reduced security threat and marketing opportunities.

Gerard Hartsink, chairman, EPC, says the Council is working with groups such as the GSMA on standards and business rules for the initiation and receipt of Sepa payments by mobile. The pair launched a consultation on Sepa and mobile contactless payments in January

"The aim is to develop proposals that support collaboration and standardisation and which form the basis for interoperability. Our intention is to establish a service framework sufficient to reach potentially all payers and payees in the European Economic Area and to create a trusted and secure environment for the multiple stakeholders active in the field," he says.

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