Mobile Banking International Updates - Mar 29

Commercial Bank of Qatar launches comprehensive mobile banking, payment services
"Commercial Bank of Qatar, the largest private-sector bank in Qatar, has launched comprehensive mobile banking and mobile payments services for its retail customers. The financial institution tapped Sybase Inc.’s Sybase 365, a specialist in mobile messaging and mobile commerce services, to power the mobile platforms. The new, free downloadable mobile banking applications provide customers with instant and secure connectivity to accounts anywhere, anytime, and complement Commercial Bank’s Internet banking service."

Brits not keen on mobile banking
"The UK is lagging behind in the world when it comes to mobile banking, according to market analysts Datamonitor. While consumers in Africa, Asia, India and Russia have access to advanced mobile banking services, most UK customers have access only to text-based functions, it found."

Mobile Cyber Security In India
"Mobile phone has become an important aspect of our daily lives. We use mobile phone for multi purposes including mobile banking and mobile governance. With the use of third generation spectrum, even better, speedier and more productive use of mobile phones is now possible. However, of all the benefits of use of mobile, we cannot ignore the risks associated with it. For instance, the mobile banking in India is risky as the present banking and other technology related legal frameworks are not conducive for mobile banking in India."

South Africa-based MTN launches life insurance program via mobile banking in Ghana
"A South African mobile phone giant has joined with an insurance company to launch a program in Ghana that will allow subscribers to pay for life insurance through their mobile phones, a company official said Wednesday. Phone banking has taken off in Africa, where the impoverished majority can't afford the costs of traditional banks, including account fees and bus fares to get to town from villages to visit the banks."

Monitise launches trial mobile payments service in Nigeria
"Monitise, a mobile banking service provider has launched a trial mobile payments service in Nigeria. The service is tested in four cities and 11 rural locations across four states under a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provisional licence."