IBM is to offer m-commerce services to financial services firms and wireless operators through a joint initiative with paybox, the German mobile payments provider which is 50% owned by Deutsche Bank.
Under the agreement, IBM Global Services will combine its wireless e-business consulting, services and integration capabilities with paybox mobile payment solutions. Wireless transactions via vending machines and retail point of payment solutions are examples of applications in development.
The agreement will take effect immediately across markets in Europe where paybox is operational - and in the UK the first application is already being marketed - a self-service wireless payment kiosk for topping up pre-paid mobile accounts.
Core aspects of the agreement include the joint development of mobile payment applications, the distribution of existing paybox services and activities designed to gain new licensing partners, opening up new m-commerce markets.
The joint offerings will be based on an integration of paybox applications with IBM's WebSphere platform and IBM retail solutions.
Paybox chief marketing officer, Peter Seipp describes the collaborative agreement as "a significant step forward for international m-payment and its vital role in future business strategies".