Mobile money provider Creova is partnering with Viamobile, a mobile money service provider in the Middle East, to roll out a new mobile wallet called Simba. Lebanese bank Fransabank Sal will be first to launch the service.

With Simba, Viamobile said it is planning to build an ecosystem with a platform that offers mobile banking and mobile payment solutions throughout the region. In announcing the launch of Simba, company CEO Karim El Khoury said that partnering with Creova as a technology provider means that Simba will take a giant leap forward to position itself as a market leader in the payment arena.

The Simba mobile wallet offers a number of user services, including person-to-person money transfer, mobile top-up with all operators, Internet top-up, payment of parking fines and payments to merchants.

"Mobile money is driving a disruptive shift in customer interaction, thereby accelerating the replacement of cash and bringing new products and payment means to consumers and merchants," said Creova CEO Ramzi El-Fekih.

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