IBM in digital payments pact with mobile payments firm Monitise

BM  and mobile payment services provider Monitise plc yesterday announced a global digital commerce and resourcing alliance.

This alliance will provide IBM sales and specialist resources to clients around the world with the full spectrum of advice, solution design and delivery of Monitise's Mobile Money services.

Monitise is a global provider of Mobile Money - banking, paying and buying with a mobile device. Leading banks, payments companies, retailers and mobile networks utilise Monitise's technology platforms and services to securely connect people with their money.

30 million consumers have registered for Monitise's patented technology to 'bank anywhere', 'pay anyone' and 'buy anything', accounting for $88bn of payments, purchases and transfers annually.

Building on Monitise's IBM Global Alliance announcement in July that included the IBM MobileFirst portfolio of offerings. Monitise's technology will be enabled, hosted and sold as an IBM cloud-delivered solution worldwide in the business-to-business space.

As part of the collaboration, IBM's global go-to-market investment of dedicated resources and promotional initiatives, globally and in region, will enable Monitise to expand Mobile Money opportunities.

While commercial opportunities initially will be targeted at financial institutions, the companies will also address the needs of mobile network operators, retailers and any vertical requiring simple API connectivity to bank-grade, interoperable and scalable mobile payment and commerce functionality and content.

As part of this agreement, teams from Monitise's UK development and integration business known as Professional Services -- including a number of contractors -- will be transferred into IBM; IBM will in turn deliver services back to Monitise. 

The transfer, which involves UK employees representing a little over 20 percent of Monitise's global employee base, means Monitise technology talent will now be available for both Monitise and IBM customer projects and vice versa. All Monitise contracts and client relationships, intellectual property, commitments and delivery remain unchanged.

The collaboration will increase Monitise's ability to handle larger custom projects globally, in addition to implementing standardised solutions and
add tp IBM's ability to deliver existing and future Monitise-based Mobile Money solutions to customers.

''Today's businesses require solutions that radically streamline and accelerate mobile adoption to reinvent the customer experience,'' said Bridget van Kralingen senior vice president, Global Business Services, IBM. ''Our deepening collaboration with Monitise, our strong cultural fit and shared vision for a multi-channel future, ensures that we are perfectly positioned to help our clients take full advantage of the mobile opportunity.''

Monitise plc CEO Alastair Lukies said: ''Today's announcement marks a new milestone in delivering an industry-leading Mobile Money partnership, establishing IBM and Monitise as a global powerhouse.   Together, we are in an unrivalled position to enable banks and other leading businesses to build on mobile banking and payments capabilities to tap into the growing digital commerce opportunity.''

Lukies added: ''Our deeper level of collaboration with IBM supports the strategy update we announced in March with our increasing product focus and our ability to scale, both in terms of our delivery capabilities and our global footprint, as well as letting each company focus on its proven market-leading strengths. Creating the most comprehensive and easiest access to the best Mobile Money tools for businesses around the world is the biggest driver behind this deal. No matter whether you are a start-up, mid-sized or international bank, mobile network operator or retailer, this unrivalled partnership delivering cost-effective interoperable bank, pay and buy mobile products and solutions from any country, helps business unlock the commercial benefits of Mobile Money.''
About IBM MobileFirst

IBM's 5,000 mobile experts have been at the forefront of mobile enterprise innovation. IBM has secured more than 4,300 patents in mobile, social and security, which have been incorporated into IBM MobileFirst solutions that enable enterprise clients to radically streamline and accelerate mobile adoption, help organizations engage more people and capture new markets. Through IBM's partnership with Apple, the two organizations are transforming enterprise mobility with a new class of industry specific business apps. For more information on IBM MobileFirst, visit the press kit or www.ibm.com/mobilefirst. Follow @IBMMobile on Twitter, and see IBM MobileFirst on YouTube, Tumblr and Facebook.

About Monitise
Monitise is a global provider of Mobile Money - banking, paying and buying with a mobile device. Leading banks, payments companies, retailers and mobile networks utilise Monitise's technology platforms and services to securely connect people with their money.

30 million consumers have registered for Monitise's patented technology to 'bank anywhere', 'pay anyone' and 'buy anything', accounting for $88bn of payments, purchases and transfers annually. Additionally, apps designed by the Group's Monitise Create and MEA divisions have been downloaded 30 million times.