“MasterCard is focused on delivering innovative applications and services that help make life easier not only for MasterCard cardholders, but for all consumers,” said Cheryl Guerin, senior vice president, Global Digital Marketing, MasterCard Worldwide. “With the success of this application on both the iPhone and Blackberry, it is a natural progression to bring it to the active Android user base as well. Now, Android smart phone users can save time by using the MasterCard ATM Hunter in real-time to find an ATM nearby.”

The MasterCard ATM Hunter leverages the location-based technologies of the Android platform to search for the nearest ATM. Users can customize their search based on their unique banking needs – such as a search for a specific financial institution if they need to make a deposit or surcharge-free ATMs. MasterCard ATM Hunter can also pinpoint wheelchair accessible, drive-thru or 24-hour access ATMs and provide directions to get there.

The MasterCard ATM Hunter application for Android will also allow users to “report a problem” for an ATM location. This new feature facilitates real-time communication back to MasterCard to report a problem such as a non-working ATM or an ATM that no longer exists in the location noted.

[via Android Community]

MasterCard MoneySend allows users in the U.S. to send or request money via their BlackBerry through participating banks and credit unions or when they create a virtual prepaid account through Bancorp Bank. Users can then link their existing debit or credit cards or bank checking account to the new virtual prepaid account and begin sending money via their BlackBerry Smartphone. The designated account funds the MoneySend transaction, and users can manage and trigger the exchanges through the app. Personal and financial information is never stored on the BlackBerry. Certain Bancorp Bank fees will apply.

Registered MoneySend users have the ability to:

– Accept credit or debit card payments

– Send money to family members (*bank sending fees may apply)

– Pay for informal goods and services (*bank sending fees may apply)

– Request money from people who owe money

– Simplify business or non-profit collection effort through the Request Funds feature

– Manage MoneySend transaction history from a BlackBerry

– Invite other users to use MoneySend via email as a function within the app

The MasterCard ATM Hunter utilizes the iPhone or iPod touch’s location awareness technologies to pinpoint the search. Users can customize their hunt based on their unique banking needs - such as focusing their search to a specific financial institution if they need to make a deposit or wish to avoid ATM withdrawal fees. MasterCard ATM Hunter can also pinpoint wheelchair accessible, drive-through, or 24-hour access ATMs and provide the directions to get there. Additionally, MasterCard ATM Hunter automatically provides users with helpful ATM safety tips.

Powered by the MasterCard Location Services platform, MasterCard ATM Hunter is the latest delivery channel for ATM location information from MasterCard. Each year, more than two million consumers contact MasterCard via the Web, phone and wireless (SMS) to find ATM locations

[via techcrunch]

How the MasterCard Over-the-Air Provisioning Service Works

In order for accountholders to use their mobile phones to make purchases, they need to have a mobile phone equipped with Near Field Communications (NFC) capabilities and a mobile data subscription. First the PayPass application is securely transferred onto a secure area of the consumer’s mobile phone via the mobile network. Next the PayPass application is personalized with the consumers’ individual payment account details. The service will be made available to consumers through their issuing banks’ websites.