February 14, 2012 – The European Payments Council has published an updated edition of its mobile payments white paper and made it available for public consultation. It focuses on the usage of the mobile channel for the initiation of SEPA payment instruments. The EPC’s ‘White Paper on Mobile Payments’, which was first published in July 2010, presents an overview on mobile payments for SEPA. It focuses on the usage of the mobile channel for the initiation of SEPA payment instruments.

The white paper also explores how m-payment services can be delivered through cooperation between service providers in the payment industry and players within the mobile ecosystem. It offers an informative read to any party interested in m-payments, and aims to foster a common understanding by using non-technical language.

This second edition of the EPC’s ‘White Paper on Mobile Payments‘ describes mobile wallets at high level. In addition, the document has been updated to cover both contactless and remote m-payments. It analyses in particular use cases for mobile remote card and SEPA Credit Transfer payments.

M-payments are typically divided into two areas of activity: remote m-payments, where two parties are able to send and receive or exchange funds using the mobile channel, irrespective of where they are located; and contactless m-payments, where the mobile device needs to be ‘waved’ in close proximity to a point-of-sale terminal. The EPC aims to support the advancement of both types of m-payments to ensure the development of a sustainable infrastructure.

The EPC encourages all Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) stakeholders to provide feedback by 23 March 2012.