The alliance between the two companies combines Logica's, now part of CGI, established IT and consulting services, payments expertise and local market knowledge in Europe with Monitise's bank-grade Mobile Money capabilities.

Mobile banking is one of the fastest growing areas for financial services businesses and is becoming a "must have" in an increasingly competitive market. The alliance will offer clients proven mobile banking, payment and commerce solutions designed to make mobile banking a main-stream service. The CGI and Monitise approach will help banks capitalise on the true potential of mobile as an intrinsic customer channel and stay competitive in an increasingly tough battleground for consumer engagement.

Through their alliance, CGI and Monitise will deliver cutting-edge functionality from straightforward payment and statement services to complex processes such as buying insurance policies. They will work together to provide seamless consumer experiences that make bank customers' lives easier on a daily basis and, in turn, drive greater take up and use of banks' mobile offerings.

The alliance between CGI and Monitise will initially focus on European retail banks in the UK, Benelux, Nordics, Germany and France.

Lode Snykers, Financial Services Global Industry Lead, CGI added: "Our clients recognise that mobile is not just another channel, it's fast becoming consumers' first choice for banking services. People take their mobile devices pretty much everywhere making them the single easiest route for banks to provide services. Whilst many financial services companies have already launched initial mobile services, our aim is to help them create solutions which consumers will use time and time again. Our alliance with Monitise allows us to offer financial institutions in Europe the latest proven Mobile Money services in this extremely competitive market."

Alastair Lukies, Chief Executive of Monitise Group, said: "The i industry is at a tipping point - for some time, many banks have been developing their own home-grown bespoke efforts. The shift is now underway towards a platform approach to better meet demands for time-to-market pressures, interoperability and future proofing. CGI is one of the companies at the forefront of this change."

"We are delighted to enter into this agreement with CGI as a culturally-aligned partner as we define and deliver evolving Mobile Money roadmaps for our current and future clients. Together we will play a major role in helping banks' defend and extend their rightful roles in the Mobile Money ecosystem."