MasterCard Worldwide is accelerating its commercial deployment of mobile payment in the Asia-Pacific region through one of the world’s largest Near Field Communications (NFC) MasterCard PayPass pilots.

The latest industry trial of PayPass, MasterCard’s globally interoperable contactless payment system, was recently launched in Bengaluru in India in collaboration with Citibank, Nokia and Vodafone.

Consumers participating in the pilot will enjoy promotional offers such as discounts at various popular retail establishments, including department stores, food courts at shopping malls and office buildings, restaurants and fast food chains, bookstores and multiplexes.

From a business standpoint, the trial has established a fully secure, scalable and interoperable mobile payments ecosystem and will gather user insight across a wide range of parameters. The pilot is also a means to look at the level of acceptance consumers display towards embracing contactless payments through the mobile phone as well as track consumer response to the next stage of innovation in contactless payments NFC-enabled interactive posters and mobile coupon redemptions.

“Being at the forefront of innovation, we are happy to bring mobile payments to the people of Bengaluru. Mobile payments offer them the convenience of being able to pay through their every day device, quickly and conveniently without fumbling for their change or wallets. The project marks an important milestone in helping the industry accelerate towards commercial roll outs and puts Asia in the middle of global MasterCard Mobile developments,” said Jeff Portelli, group executive, Global Products & Solutions, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide, in a press release.

In order to spur market growth, MasterCard has been working with the industry to create and endorse infrastructure, cost, and revenue modeling, besides standards. “In the longer term, we see mobile services expanding beyond simple payments and fueling economic connections for consumers in the global marketplace. The mobile phone will become a mainstream channel for delivery of various value added services,” said Portelli.