Digital security provider Gemalto announced that it has obtained certification for its UpTeq NFC SIM cards from payment networks American Express, MasterCard and Visa. 

The UpTeq NFC SIM cards securely store personal data and payment credentials on a mobile device and support contactless payment and other secure services using Amex ExpressPay, MasterCard PayPass and Visa payWave contactless technologies.

"Our involvement and experience in the telecommunications and banking sectors have enabled us to create a high-end security device that leverages the strengths of these two industries," said Frédéric Vasnier, senior vice president at Gemalto. "Combined with the fact that our high availability Trusted Service Management centers in Singapore, the U.S. and France have received certification by MasterCard and Visa, Gemalto is offering a unique service footprint to support mobile NFC deployment anywhere in the world."

UpTeq NFC is already in use in various mobile payment schemes around the world. It's being deployed in Singapore as a part of efforts by carriers there to launch an NFC mobile payment system. Additionally, Gemalto's SIM cards will be customized for the local requirements of KDDI in Japan, Rogers in Canada and Orange in France, the company said.

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