The service, developed and operated by internationally renowned mobile transaction solutions provider Cellum, has thus become the world’s first telco-offered converged wallet with fifteen remote and proximity payment functions in one app.

The new tap-and-pay functionality makes Telenor Wallet a truly 360° digital wallet, covering almost any payment scenarios that consumers might find themselves in. Launched in late 2014, the service already represented major milestones in mobile payment services when it introduced support for MasterPass™, making it the world’s first carrier-owned wallet to support Mastercard’s global payment network. The app also features an in-app marketplace for food delivery, entertainment ticketing and purchasing Telenor accessories.

Telenor Wallet’s NFC functionality uses special SIM cards to secure card data, and works with purpose-made bank cards issued by Budapest Bank under the brand “Telenor MobilPass”. Android users can initiate the onboarding process inside the application. Once the onboarding process is complete, the bank card is installed automatically and the user can pay at any PayPass-compatible terminal around the world. Thanks to the SIM-based technology, payments can be made even when the phone is turned off.

Telenor Wallet is based on the Cellum Mobile Next platform, a market-tested and fraud-proof technology that Cellum is currently rolling out in the APAC region.