FIME Certifies Qatar National Bank NFC Payments Solution According to MasterCard PayPass Specifications
29 May 2012 – FIME, a global leader in consulting and market integration testing services for smart devices and secure chip-based applications, has tested and certified Qatar National Bank’s (QNBs) contactless mobile payments solution for its compliance to MasterCard® PayPass™ Specifications. The pilot project, which began roll-out in March this year, is Qatar’s first near field communication (NFC) payments initiative.
The contactless mobile payments programme provides QNB customers and merchants with a convenient and quick way to make and accept payments through the use of NFC-enabled handsets and point-of-sale (POS) contactless terminals. The mobile payments project is part of a phased implementation plan where QNB will work closely with project participants to deploy contactless POS terminals in Qatar’s leading NFC cities.
FIME’s ISO 17025 accredited laboratories performed on and off-site test evaluations on mobile handsets, Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) and POS contactless terminals to confirm compliance with MasterCard PayPass Specifications and provide the necessary certification.
Abdulla Nasser Al Khalifa, Assistant General Manager Retail at QNB, comments: “Developing and launching a nationwide contactless mobile payment pilot required a multidisciplinary approach due to the various stakeholders involved. Testing and certification was therefore vital in ensuring interoperability and standardisation. With its global experience and regional presence, we were keen to work with FIME to engage with the various stakeholders and ensure products could be confidently brought to market and form part of a trusted contactless mobile payments infrastructure.”
Pascal le Ray, General Manager at FIME, comments: “When developing a mobile contactless payments ecosystem, it is important that each technology element fully integrates to create a secure and interoperable payment environment for the customer. With vast experience in the contactless payment market, FIME is able to act as a central point to a range of stakeholders and offer guidance through its consulting, testing and certification services, ensuring the successful delivery of products.”
Regarding FIME’s offering in the Middle East, Pascal continues: “FIME has been establishing its commercial presence in the region for over a year now and is looking forward to expanding its offering to provide local support to domestic payment schemes and migration to mobile and contactless payments.”
About FIME
FIME is an independent global leader in consulting and integration testing services for smart devices and secure chip-based applications within the telecom, e-payment, transport, e-identity and logistic sectors. Its international team works with manufacturers, banks and authorities within these markets throughout the research and development lifecycle to provide expertise on sector requirements, functional and security features and industry regulation.
Since 1995, FIME has established global ISO 17025 accredited laboratories which provide official testing and certification services to validate a solution’s compliance and security before launch. FIME’s technical ability ensures a customer’s solution is secure, interoperable and achieves the highest level of industry standardisation.
With over 200 employees and operating across America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and Asia, FIME has worked with leading international schemes such as American Express, First Data, JCB, MasterCard and Visa to bring pioneering and convenient chip-based services to end users.
About QNB Group
Qatar National Bank (QNB), established in 1964 as the country’s first Qatari-owned commercial bank, has an ownership structure split between the Qatar Investment Authority (50%) and the private sector (50%).
QNB is among the largest and highest rated banks in the Middle East and North Africa Region and is by far the leading financial institution in the State of Qatar.
QNB Group has witnessed rapid international expansion in the past few years and operates in 24 countries around the world through its network, subsidiaries and associate companies employing about 7,000 staff from 334 branch and offices, supported by an ATM network that exceeds 600 machines.
