DUBLIN, Calif., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc., the global leader in mobile messaging and mobile commerce services, today announced it has been selected to be a preferred mobile money technology provider in MasterCard's Mobile Money Partnership Program.  The program is a global initiative to help the more than 2.5 billion financially underserved consumers worldwide gain access to mainstream financial services through their mobile phones.  As a leading mobile commerce platform provider for mobile banking, mobile payments and mobile money, Sybase 365® technology and expertise enhances mobile money services for all consumers including the unbanked and underbanked in developing markets.

The objective of Sybase 365 and MasterCard is to provide banks and mobile operators with an "open" payment solution to enable and enhance the consumers' mobile commerce experience.

"Today, only a small fraction of the population in emerging markets has bank accounts. We designed the MasterCard Mobile Money Partnership Program to ensure that consumers in these markets have access to safe and convenient forms of financial services via their mobile phones," said Mung Ki Woo, Group Executive, Mobile, MasterCard Worldwide. "Partnering with leading solution providers such as Sybase 365 extends and accelerates our presence in the mobile money space."

MasterCard and Sybase 365 will work towards developing and connecting their respective systems and software to provide an integrated mobile money services platform based on MasterCard prepaid companion cards and Sybase 365 Mobile Money solution. This platform will allow consumers to transfer funds, pay bills, and purchase goods and services via their mobile phones at millions of brick and mortar and online merchants worldwide that accept MasterCard cards.

"By providing solutions to emerging markets through a flexible partnership program, MasterCard is unlocking opportunities for innovation throughout the entire ecosystem," said Matthew Talbot, Senior Vice President of mCommerce, Sybase 365. "As a lead preferred partner with MasterCard, we will demonstrate our expertise in bringing operators and financial institutions together to create mobile financial services solutions that reach millions around the world."

Sybase 365's industry-leading mobile commerce platform is developed for mobile banking, mobile payments and mobile money. The company enables financial institutions and mobile network operators to create, run and manage mobile commerce services for developed and emerging markets.

IN RELATED NEWS:
-Sybase defines the global mCommerce movement for financial institutions, enterprises and mobile operators with the launch of the Sybase Mobile Commerce Guide 2012.  The second annual Guide features successful strategies, expert advice and case studies from key players in the ecosystem who are transforming consumer behaviour and redefining business opportunities in developed and emerging markets.

-Sybase 365 and Telefonica announce global, strategic partnership to expand mobile financial services with innovative mobile wallet services to roll out across Europe and Latin America.

-Sybase 365 recognized in leading and shaping the future of mobile commerce, receiving the Mobile Payments Award in Juniper Research's Future Mobile Awards 2012 for Mobile Commerce. Sybase 365 also received high commendations for its Mobile Money Transfer and Mobile Banking services.

About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. Mobile Payment Solutions (MPS) is a joint venture between MasterCard and Smart Hub Inc. that provides mobile payments processing and gateway services. MPS enables interoperability through the MasterCard Worldwide Network, providing comprehensive solutions that facilitate payments between mobile network operators, financial institutions and third party systems. Follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews, join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

About Sybase 365
Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (an SAP company; NYSE: SAP), is the global leader in enabling mobile information services for mobile operators, financial institutions and enterprises. We provide our customers with the widest offering in SMS, MMS, GRX, IPX interoperability, end-to-end mobile commerce solutions, innovative mCRM and mobile marketing services. Sybase 365 processes more than 1.8 billion messages per day, reaching 900 operators and 5.5 billion subscribers around the world. For more information, visit: www.sybase.com/365. Read our blogs: http://blogs.sybase.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Sybase.

Sybase and Sybase 365 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sybase, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. ® indicates registration in the United States.

Forward-looking Statement
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SOURCE Sybase 365