Rogers Communications Selects Gemalto to Secure Mobile NFC Payment Solutions 

(MENAFN Press) AMSTERDAM & TORONTO - Wednesday, October 10th 2012-

Mobile payments on Rogers NFC-enabled devices to be protected by Gemalto's SIM-based software security

Rogers Communications (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) announced today that mobile payment solutions currently in pilot testing and coming to market this year on Rogers NFC-enabled devices will be secured by digital security technology from Gemalto. Rogers will deploy the UpTeq NFC, Gemalto's EMV-ready, high-end SIM-UICC solution, to store and secure consumers credentials and card data required to make payments with NFC-enabled mobile devices.

"It's essential that consumers have peace of mind when it comes to storing payment cards on their mobile device and using it to make credit and debit transactions on the go," said David Robinson, Vice-President, Emerging Business, Rogers Communications. "Working with Gemalto allows us to protect the consumer's information by leveraging the SIM card, assuring a secure and seamless experience for mobile payments."

Rogers is deploying the UpTeq NFC to secure payment credentials stored on the high-end SIM for new mobile payment services that are expected to launch in Canada later this year, and will leverage the card's onboarding flexibility for the future addition of tap-and-go services including coupon redemption, loyalty programs, transit, and other digital identification. The UpTeq NFC secure device, which has an identical form factor as a conventional SIM, is part of Gemalto's UpTeq LTE offer, and fully compliant over LTE networks. The payment services that Rogers expects to deliver to banks will fully comply with EMV, the global standard for secure credit and debit card transactions based on microprocessor chip technology that protects information needed for secure payments. The software application and the UpTeq NFC device have both successfully achieved the compliance assessment and security testing certification in accordance with MasterCard and Visa's highest security requirements.

"Gemalto has the global experience and capabilities, deploying and having deployed more than 50 mobile NFC projects worldwide. The company has a long history of being entrusted by thousands of banks and mobile operators around the world to provide best-in-class solutions for digital security" said Sbastien Cano, senior vice president of Telecommunications at Gemalto North America. "We have worked closely with Rogers to develop a highly scalable and secure solution for mobile payment that leverages the SIM as our industry's most cost-effective security ingredient - Rogers is leading the way for the future of mobile payments."

Canada has been on the forefront of global payments technology and as a result, tens of thousands of Canadian retailers are already equipped with contactless point-of-sale (POS) terminals that today accept contactless banking cards and are hence capable of supporting the mobile payment solutions on NFC-enabled devices - among them fast food outlets, gasoline stations, grocery and convenience stores and coffee shops.