RIM Gets Visa’s Stamp of Approval for Mobile Payment Solution

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion this week announced that its mobile NFC (Near Field Communication) payments solution has been approved by Visa.

RIM’s Secure Element Manager (SEM) is a backend solution that carriers can use to securely manage credentials on SIM (subscriber identity module) cards installed on NFC-capable mobile devices.

“The approval from Visa of RIM’s SEM solution is an important step in that it will enable carriers to support Visa issuing banks and financial institutions,” said Frank Maduri, Senior Director, NFC Services and TSM Product Management at RIM. “We now offer carriers a robust solution with around-the-clock global support that works on any NFC-capable device, and meets the stringent technology and usability guidelines for Visa.”

“RIM’s success in gaining Visa’s formal approval as secure element manager is a crucial step in expanding RIM’s role as a key security partner for mobile payment solutions around the globe,” said Andy Castonguay, Principal Analyst, at Informa Telecoms & Media. “RIM’s secure network operations center provides a unique combination of global geographic reach, and has established trusted relationships with hundreds of carriers around the world with an unparalleled reputation for security, which sets RIM apart as an SEM partner in the growing mobile payments space.”

Related: BlackBerry NFC Security Overview (White Paper)

Related: Eyeing Revenue, Mobile Operators Commit to NFC Technology