Etisalat, the UAE’s leading telecom company, will offer the first mobile wallet service in the country leveraging the proven digital wallet platform provided by Oberthur Technologies (OT), a leading global provider of embedded security software products and services.

OT in a statement announced the adoption by Etisalat of its digital platforms to introduce the first-of-its-kind mobile wallet service in the UAE.

With the explosion in the number of smartphones in the UAE, the telecoms sector is entering a new era, in which smartphones are daily companions and an interface to offer individuals security and convenience each time they connect, authenticate or pay, the company said.

Etisalat will transform its subscribers’ experience by enabling them to use their smartphone to pay utility bills, top up airtime, pay for parking in different cities or purchase a broad range of goods and services.

Accessible through an application, the mobile wallet designed by Etisalat also allows money transfers. The subscriber can control the transactions with automatic reports, notifications and account management features.

“Etisalat is a leader in its chosen markets and OT’s long lasting partner. We are delighted to join forces to launch the first mobile wallet service in the country” said Pierre Barrial, managing director of the Mobile Network Operators business at OT. “Our platform provides a high level of convenience while remaining very secure, relying on a number of advanced mechanisms, including voice, pin and phone authentication”.

“UAE is at the forefront of digital payment development so it was critical for Etisalat to provide its subscribers with innovative m-commerce and m-banking services” said Rashed Al Abbar, vice president of consumer innovations at Etisalat. “OT, with its track record and expertise in this kind of technology was the best partner to support us in the deployment of our mobile wallet in UAE. – TradeArabia News Service