Vodafone SmartPass Launch in Germany Supported by Wirecard

MUNICH, December 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today Vodafone Germany is launching its new mobile wallet with the integrated Vodafone SmartPass Visa payment application. 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.

About Vodafone Germany:

With 11,000 employees and sales of EUR 9.6 billion, Vodafone Germany is one of the largest and most modern telecommunications providers in Europe. As an innovative and integrated technology and services company headquartered in Dusseldorf, Vodafone Germany is communication from one source: mobile and fixed line, internet and broadband data services for business and residential customers. Continuous development, numerous patents and investments in new products, services and the modern network have made Vodafone an innovation leader in the German telecommunications market. Vodafone is committed to social responsibility. As a socio-political think tank, the Vodafone Foundation Germany initiates and promotes numerous programmes on education, integration and social mobility. The company is part of the Vodafone Group. For more information, please visit at http://www.vodafone.de.

About Wirecard AG:

Wirecard AG is one of the world's leading independent providers of outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payment transactions. The Wirecard Group supports companies in accepting electronic payments from all sales channels. A global multi-channel platform bundles international payment acceptances and methods, supplemented by fraud prevention solutions. When it comes to issuing their own payment instruments in the form of cards or mobile payment solutions, Wirecard provides companies with an end-to-end infrastructure, including the requisite licenses for card and account products.

Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI).

http://www.wirecard.com | http://www.wirecardbank.com |  http://www.mywirecard.com

Wirecard media contact:

Wirecard AG
Maren Brandt
Einsteinring 35
D-85609 Aschheim / Germany
Tel.: +49(0)89-4424-1425
Fax: +49(0)89-4424-2425
Email: maren.brandt@wirecard.com
Website: http://www.wirecard.de 

Vodafone Germany media contact:

Vodafone GmbH
Thorsten Höpken
Ferndinand-Braun-Platz 1
D-40549 Düsseldorf / Germany
Tel.: +49(0)211-533-5597
Email: thorsten.hoepken@vodafone.com 
Website: http://www.vodafone.de