Swedish mobile operators Telia, Tele2, Telenor and Three have formed a mobile payments joint venture in the wake of operators elsewhere in Europe and the US. M-pay services offered by the venture – which is equally owned by all four operators – will be available by summer 2012.  Recruitment of a CEO is underway and more information will be published about the venture early next year. The Swedish venture includes all the country’s major mobile operators (except for Net1, a tiny CDMA450 player).

Some other countries have followed the same inclusive approach as Sweden, including Denmark, Hungary and the Netherlands. Elsewhere, mobile payment ventures have not included every major operator, for instance in the UK, Germany and the US. Interestingly, 3UK is complaining vehemently about being excluded from the British venture, whereas its Swedish sister company is successfully on board with the local m-pay venture.