The Voice Commerce application was approved by MasterCard Europe in May 2010 following compliance with strict risk management and operating requirements.

In line with Voice Commerce securing its status as a Payments Institution (PI) in November 2009, it can now independently provide its own payment services to businesses, including acquiring payment transactions across Europe.

Nick Ogden, CEO of the Voice Commerce Group, said: "Securing membership of MasterCard means we can start to deliver our innovative payment solutions directly to customers and also to our fellow Scheme members to accelerate the adoption of m-commerce and mobile financial services in Europe".

Leigh Clapham, Head of Commerce Development, MasterCard Europe, commented: "MasterCard Europe is committed to the European vision of a more open, dynamic and harmonised payments market. The introduction of PIs under the PSD is intended to encourage growth of new and innovative payment services so all can benefit from a more open and consistent European payments market. Voice Commerce is an example of this new wave of payment providers and we are delighted that it has been successful in its application to join MasterCard."