airtel Africa, a division of India-based Bharti Airtel Ltd, has partnered with U.K. bank Standard Chartered and MasterCard Worldwide to launch the first "virtual card" payment method. The payment method, called the airtel 1time Shopping Card, will be available immediately to cell phone subscribers in Kenya but will soon be rolled out to other wireless markets in Africa served by airtel.

The payment method is intended to help the unbanked in Africa get access to online and mobile commerce by providing them with virtual single-use shopping cards through their mobile phones. According to the announcement, the airtel 1time Shopping Card provides consumers with a convenient and secure online shopping experience.

This is the second announcement in a week involving MasterCard’s partnerships aimed at providing mobile payment solutions to the unbanked in developing economies. Just last week, MasterCard announced a mobile payment joint venture with Telefónica in Latin America. In many economies in Africa, Latin America and Asia, consumers have more access to cell phones than they do to traditional financial services.

“We see mobile payments as an innovative way to let consumers quickly and securely purchase their favorite items in this connected world," said Michael Miebach, Division President, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. "These innovations at MasterCard also provide governments and other participants in the economy with a platform for financial inclusion.”