The three firms already offer a remote text message-based mobile payments service for online purchases under the mpass brand.

They now intend to register mpass as a company that will begin operating early next year and make a move into near field communications-based contactless m-payments.

According to NFCWorld, initially the new venture will offer Germans NFC stickers that can be stuck to handsets before adding a SIM-based option later.

Christian Illek, director, marketing, Telekom Deutschland, says: "Mpass will make mobile payment easier, faster and more secure than with conventional payment means. Within the mpass partnership we are not only applying the specific benefits of mobile phones in the payment market, but, more importantly, we are bundling our customer reach with that of our partners."