IDEMIA and Mobeewave are extending their payments partnership in Australia. The two companies first joined forces in 2017, and are now working together to bring NFC-enabled contactless payments to brick-and-mortar retailers across the country.

The joint solution combines IDEMIA’s Digital Enablement Platform with Mobeewave’s contactless payment processing platform, which is compliant with the latest Payment Card Industry standards. The technology allows merchants to accept contactless card and digital wallet payments on any mobile device with NFC capabilities.

The solution is particularly appealing to smaller retailers, since it allows them to accept more modern forms of payment without forcing them to invest in expensive payments hardware.  

“Bricks and mortar businesses are increasingly frustrated with the complexities of accepting payments,” said Mobeewave Co-Founder Benjamin du Haÿs. “Ninety-seven percent of all Australian companies are micro and small businesses, and they have been underserved for far too long by the lack of easy, frictionless and affordable card payment acceptance solutions.”

“We are paving the way for Australia to be a world leader in effortless and secure payment innovation,” added IDEMIA Sales and Global Markets SVP James King.

The two companies have also developed an app that allows transit officers to validate the fares of people using contactless technology to pay for public transit.

IDEMIA has previously deployed its Digital Enablement Platform to facilitate digital transactions for JCB. The initiative continues IDEMIA’s recent focus on Australia, which has focused primarily on border control technology and preceded the renewal of the company’s SmartGate contract with the Australian Department of Home Affairs.  

Mobeewave, meanwhile, is a veteran of Mastercard’s Start Path accelerator program.