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American Express joins GlobalPlatform’s mobile contactless standardization efforts

By Sarah Clark | NearFieldCommunicationsWorld.com | 29 September 2009, 14:10

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American Express has become the latest Full Member of GlobalPlatform, the international smart card specifications body whose technical specifications for cards, devices and systems are used in more than 300 million smart cards and two billion SIM/USIM cards — with the aim of participating in the association's mobile payments standardization efforts.

"The two associations are collaborating to advance GlobalPlatform’s Specifications relative to secure content management on mobile devices, while ensuring that the technology aligns with EMVCo’s application management requirements – including over-the-air (OTA) download and personalization – for mobile devices," says the official announcement.

"We are committed to driving an open and interoperable infrastructure that will provide customers with choice and flexibility," says Susan Hillel, American Express' Senior Vice President of Global Network Operations. "American Express recognizes that by contributing to GlobalPlatform, and engaging in its cross-market expertise, we will be in a stronger position to deliver innovative and convenient payment solutions to American Express’ users globally. We look forward to lending our market experience and resources to GlobalPlatform, and participating in this important industry initiative.”

In May, GlobalPlatform published a detailed white paper outlining the technical specifications it has created for the management of multi-application, multi-actor and multi-business model NFC implementations. It also presents GlobalPlatform's plans for the development of future NFC specifications.

And, earlier this month, GlobalPlatform signed a Memorandum of Understanding with telecommunications standards body ETSI that will see the two organisations working together to share industry and technical knowledge and to synchronize the development of mobile payments specifications.