Gemalto, a provider of digital security products and services, in association with Kasikornbank and telecommunications operator Advanced Info Services (AIS), will offer its Trusted Services Management (TSM) service to support the launch of Near-Field Communication (NFC) payments in Thailand.

Gemalto said that the NFC service will enable the Thai consumers to transform their mobile phones into contactless devices for touch-and-go applications, such as payment at retail outlet partners. Since starting in July 2010, selected customers can collect their phone from Kasikornbank to enjoy mobile NFC services.

Suvit Arayawilaipong, vice president product and service development at AIS, said: “This is the first over-the-air (OTA) provisioning service that is offered from outside the country. It allows NFC to be deployed in Thailand smoothly and securely. With Gemalto we are working with a partner that we can trust.”

Art Wichiencharoen, senior VP of retail and SME e-business at Kasikornbank, said: “Leveraging Gemalto’s experience, we are able to make NFC payment easy to use. We have a simple user interface on the phone that guides a user to some 40 retail outlets where they can immediately perform mobile NFC payments like for food, entertainment and grocery shopping.”

Tan Teck-Lee, president of Gemalto Asia, said: “With Kasikornbank and AIS we are able to bring the convenience of mobile NFC sooner and in a secure manner to Thai consumers. Gemalto’s TSM services are designed to be implemented securely across national borders and this will help countries to overcome local barriers to NFC implementations.”