Russian Standard Bank, Samsung Electronics and MasterCard today announced the commercial launch of a contactless payment service on some flagship NFC-enabled Samsung devices.  For MasterCard and Samsung, the Russian launch is the second one globally and the first in Europe, according to a press release. 

The service, available through Russian Standard Bank's mobile banking app, enables users of Samsung GALAXY S4 and Samsung GALAXY Note 3 to upload MasterCard prepaid contactless NFC cards issued by Russian Standard Bank into their smartphones, according to the press release. The smartphones can then be used to pay for goods and services using MasterCard's PayPass technology. This is the first time that contactless payments technology has been made available on the Russian market to users of Samsung devices with an embedded NFC chip implemented within a banking application, according to the press release. The application is currently supported by LTE-enabled smartphones (GT-I9505 and SM-N9005 models). The application will also be supported by 3G models (GT-I9500 and SM-N9000) following a system update, to be carried out within the month. Over-the-air download and management of mobile MasterCard PayPass cards in NFC chips of Samsung smartphones is provided through the TSM platform of TREVICA, a MasterCard subsidiary.

PIN code authorization is not required for purchases of less than 1,000 rubles (US$29.37), according to a press release. The MasterCard prepaid contactless card issued by Russian Standard Bank has a validity period of one year and a limit of 15,000 rubles. The card can be funded with electronic transfers from other bank cards, namely the bank's RS express service (www.rs-express.ru), or with cash, using the bank's ATMs.

Konstantin Tarachev, project manager, head of the NFC Department for Samsung Russia and CIS, said in a statement: "Samsung strives to create products and solutions that make people's lives more convenient and simpler every day. Our cooperation with Russian Standard Bank and MasterCard shows how our joint efforts to innovate enable us to reach the goal these goals. The contactless payment service is now available for Samsung smartphone users wherever and whenever they need it."

Consumers do not need to be clients of Russian Standard Bank to use the service, according to the press release. It is available to owners of NFC-enabled Samsung GALAXY S4 or Samsung GALAXY Note 3 mobile devices who download the Russian Standard Bank mobile banking app through Samsung Apps or Google Play stores.

To download the card, the user chooses the "PayPass card" icon in the app menu, provides a mobile phone number and then receives a four-digit code confirming card issuance. Once the card is issued and funded, the smartphone can be used to make purchases without opening the application or entering the security code. In order to switch to this mode, the user chooses the "Don't enter the NFC Code" option in the app.

All card credentials for making contactless payments are stored in the phone's secure element and transactions are made in compliance with MasterCard payment system security requirements, according to the press release.