Payter announced today that it’s given the go-ahead for the nationwide roll-out of payment by mobile telephone in Netherlands.

 

Payter says its aim is to make the Netherlands one of the world’s leaders in “mobile payment convenience.” To accomplish this goal, Payter has the ambition to add 100,000 mobile users in 2009, company officials say.

 

“Payter aims to ensure that everyone will soon be able to pay by mobile phone. We have taken the first major step towards nationwide coverage,” said Elaine Carpenter, Payter’s director.

 

The alliance with CCV is designed to let Payter offer a fully integrated NFC POS terminal for these retailers and therefore expedite the roll-out, according to the company.

 

Payter and CCV, an electronic payment systems company, entered the alliance to achieve nationwide acceptance of mobile payments, tickets, coupons, loyalty and giftcards by using POS terminals with an integrated Payter reader, company officials say.

 

The 9,000 retailers are spread across six major Dutch cities, they say.

 

Starting in August, 9, retailers in 6 major cities – Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven and Arnhem – will be able to use the latest payment system, according to the companies.

 

In a nationwide campaign, Payter will provide free Near Field Communication Nokia (News - Alert) telephones to consumers living in six major Dutch cities, according to the companies. Payter says it expects more NFC phones to hit the market soon. Until then, Payter says it’s offering the remaining 90,000 people a hybrid solution to maximize access to its payment system.

 

Payter, in addition to enabling payment in stores, car parks, cafes, restaurants and cinemas, can also be used to buy tickets and gift vouchers with a mobile phone, company officials say.

 

Payter is in the midst of introducing two new applications.

 

Retailers can now create special loyalty programs for their customers, according to the company. Payter can also be used to advertise, offer interactive ads via phone, television, print, radio and the Web, company officials say. Users can select how often and which messages or offers they want to receive and then store these promotions in their mobile wallet for later use.

 

“Thanks to these combined services, the mobile telephone has now become a truly mobile wallet,” says Elaine Carpenter.

 

Payter is a young, innovative, rapidly growing company that is exploring new communication technologies and marketing concepts through the introduction of mobile phone-based payments.