Electronic payments solution provider Atos Origin is teaming-up with three of the leading mobile operators in France — Bouygues Telecom, Orange and SFR — to launch an “innovative payment solution” called Buyster. The new joint venture is being backed by the country’s major online retailers, including Aquarelle, Brandalley, Darty and Rue du Commerce.
Buyster enables mobile operators to supplement their existing remote payment services by addressing the market for online-macro payments, complementing existing “kiosk” offers which enable goods and digital services to be paid for by adding small amounts directly to the telecom bill.
Once launched in mid-2011, Buyster will allow for easy and secure payments for fixed and mobile Internet purchases. The aim of the company, whose payment institution license is still being requested from the Banque de France, is to develop, operate and market the Buyster payment facility in France.
The three carrier partners together account for over 50 million consumers, hence it is expected that the new payment service quickly reaches the tipping point.