$426 billion mobile payments market opens up for financial institutions and corporates around the world

Dubai, UAE -- (SBWire) --09/21/2011 --Mobile payments are now truly a reality as Luup today launches the first universal mobile payments platform. The launch is the result of the integration of the Temenos T24 core banking application and Microsoft BizTalk with Luup’s mobile payment services platform.

Luup CEO, Martin Wilson, explained: “We believe that Luup’s new payment platform heralds a major shift in the mobile payments sector. Through Luup, banks have the opportunity to serve corporate and retail markets using a single universal mobile payments platform.2 They can now offer mobile payment services in developed and emerging markets anywhere in the world through any mobile device and on any network. This is an industry first.”

The integration of market leading applications with Luup’s platform enables Luup to provide the most advanced mobile payments managed service available. It combines the scale to deal with large transaction volumes with the mission critical standards that banks require to meet regulatory and security requirements.

Martin Wilson continued: “Financial institutions require the capabilities, reliability and scalability of a bank-grade platform to capture a significant share of the predicted $426 billion market. As the only independent global provider of mobile payments, we have created an international remittance eco-system for banks and corporates, connecting senders and receivers of funds across the globe.”

For its solutions Luup has further developed leading technology from Temenos and Microsoft, including Microsoft BizTalk, to provide several business-enhancing functions.

Mark Gunning, Global Director, Banking Solutions at Temenos explained: “T24 is the most technically advanced core banking system available, used by hundreds of banks worldwide. Its integration into Luup’s universal platform for mobile payments means that financial institutions now have the unprecedented opportunity to get the mission-critical standard they expect - on the ubiquitous mobile channel. This co-operation between Luup and Temenos creates the most flexible, cost effective and scalable mobile solution on the market, which enables Luup’s customers to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow."

In addition, Luup’s managed service model enables banks to implement the service easily and at low cost and to scale-up as customers’ demand for mobile payments increases even further. There are already over 5 billion mobile phone users worldwide and the figure is constantly growing.

Karen Cone, general manager of Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft Corp., commented on the announcement: “Mobile payments are set to change the shape of the payments world. Microsoft technology is used throughout the payments value chain - from payments channels like Windows Phone to mission-critical processing workloads. By running its solutions on Microsoft’s SQL Server and BizTalk Server, Luup provides its customers with workflow management and dynamic interfaces that offer enhanced management of payment services.”

Luup operates in developed and emerging markets, and offers financial institutions and corporates the opportunity to reduce costs and introduce new income streams. In global markets, Luup enables banks to offer new mobile services for their corporate customers, whilst amongst large unbanked populations in emerging countries, a branchless mobile banking service is being created to address the financial inclusion agenda.

Martin Wilson concluded: “Our independence, continued innovation, global reach and the desire to continue to deliver products that meet the needs of banks and their customers means that we are in the perfect position to help financial institutions capture new revenue from the rapidly growing opportunities available from mobile payments. Our expertise and strategic partnerships means that Luup is ideally placed to develop and extend its leading position in this market. “

Luup’s mobile payment solutions can be viewed at Sibos, Stand C125 / Microsoft Stand.
Luup will also be holding a presentation with Microsoft on Changing the Dynamics of Treasury and Payments with Cloud-based Mobile Device Integration, Thursday 22 September 10:00 - 10:30 Open Theatre 2.

About Luup
Luup offers bank-grade mobile payment and financial services solutions that solve customers’ business challenges. It provides access to new cost-saving and revenue-generating business models: Corporate and Transaction banks can take advantage of the Luup Mobile Corporate Solution; Retail banks can benefit from the Luup Mobile Branchless Solution; MTOs & exchange houses can innovate with the Luup Mobile Remittance Solution.

Luup has proven best-practice experience in developing, deploying and running mobile money managed services since 2002. These range from mobile cash or salary disbursements to remittances and corporate payments - all securely via mobile devices.

Luup is creating an extensive payments ecosystem, enabling its customers to expand their own business reach with Luup’s partners. Consumers benefit through a comprehensive range of services that drive cost savings and financial inclusion. The company is integral to strategies of financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank’s Global Transaction Banking group and leading UAE bank, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi. Other partners include Oxigen Services in India, Dhasatra in Indonesia and ITC Ltd in Bangladesh. For additional information visit the Luup website.

About Temenos
Founded in 1993 and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: TEMN), Temenos Group AG is the market leading provider of banking software systems to retail, corporate, universal, private, Islamic and microfinance & community banks. Headquartered in Geneva with more than 60 offices worldwide, Temenos serves over 1,500 customers in more than 125 countries across the world. Temenos’ software products provide advanced technology and rich functionality, incorporating best practice processes that leverage Temenos’ experience in over 700 implementations around the globe. .Temenos customers are proven to be more profitable than their peers: data from The Banker – top 1000 banks shows that Temenos’ customers enjoy a 54% higher return on assets, a 62% higher return on capital and a cost/income ratio that is 7.2 points lower than non-Temenos customers. For more information please visit http://www.temenos.com