The Wirecard Group will be handling all technical and financial services for the Vodafone SmartPass card solution from Vodafone. This includes issuing both plastic and digital Visa cards for the wallet through the Wirecard Card Solutions subsidiary. The Vodafone SmartPass payment app is now being launched in Dusseldorf, where there are already around 800 NFC acceptance points. In the first quarter of 2014, the service will be successively expanded across the whole of Germany.

"We have created the best possible conditions for ensuring that mobile payment can soon be entirely integrated in everyday life for everyone. To achieve this, we started by setting a low barrier to entry. With our flexible range of services comprising NFC SIM cards and stickers, every mobile phone can be fitted with the contactless function," says Frank Vahldiek, Director of Consumer Services & Innovations at Vodafone Germany. "Through our collaboration with Wirecard, we not only have a card issuing financial institution, but also a very competent technological partner."

Customers with an NFC-enabled and wallet-certified smartphone receive a SIM card with the relevant NFC function and can then pay with their Vodafone SmartPass credit at all Visa-certified contactless terminals. Owners of mobile phones without integrated NFC technology can bridge this gap by attaching a SmartPass NFC sticker to the device. The Visa card information can be used in connection with an NFC SIM card or sticker to enable contactless tap & go payment processing. Every SmartPass user has full transparency and financial control with real time information on their transaction history, account balance and automated notification of all monetary transactions. The card account can be topped up quickly and easily at any time via the app. In addition, every Vodafone SmartPass user receives a normal Visa prepaid card for use at card terminals that have not yet been upgraded for NFC payment.

"Following the successful launch in Spain recently, we are delighted that we have been chosen to support Vodafone as it launches the Vodafone SmartPass mobile payment app in Germany. This service is a core element of the new Vodafone wallet. We are confident that more and more consumers will discover the benefits of mobile payment," says Christian von Hammel-Bonten, Executive Vice President Telecommunications at Wirecard.