Mobile payment innovation recognized at MWC

MANILA, Philippines - airtel Africa, Standard Chartered Bank and MasterCard Worldwide were honored for mobile payment innovation at the 16th Annual Global Mobile Awards held during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.

The recently launched virtual card product, developed in collaboration among airtel Africa, Standard Chartered and MasterCard, received top honors as the Best Mobile Money Product or Solution.

Honored by a panel of mobile industry experts, the virtual card product was recognized as an innovative mobile payment solution that will offer consumers in Kenya, and eventually across Africa, greater participation in the financial system through mobile commerce.

In collaboration between airtel Africa and Standard Chartered, the virtual card product is powered by MasterCard inControl technology and enables more people to connect to the global marketplace through their mobile phones.

Andre Beyers, airtel Africa’s chief marketing officer, and Daniel Monehin, area head for East and West Africa and Indian Ocean Islands of MasterCard Worldwide, received the award on behalf of the three companies at the Global Mobile Awards 2011 ceremony held at the Fira de Barcelona.

The virtual card product enables airtel Africa customers in Kenya to use their mobile phone to make online purchases from MasterCard merchants around the world.

The simplified online transaction works in the following way: each time an airtel customer is shopping online he or she will be able to request a single use shopping card number.

airtel money services will then generate a special 16-digit number that enables the completion of the transaction. On completion of the transaction, a confirmation message will be sent to the consumer’s mobile phone.

The single use feature of the virtual card product provides the consumer with a convenient and secure online shopping experience.