Telecom Italia has chosen Gemalto’s software solution for the deployment of its mobile wallet, although the operator did not divulge the launch date for its proposed service.

The solution includes Gemalto’s LinqUs TSM platform for managing NFC applications and the LinqUs mobile payment platform, which manages transactions.

Interestingly, the announcement says the new wallet will help extend Telecom Italia’s market reach “to offer services to customers in previously untapped demographics such as the under-banked and teenage population”.

This is not the profile of  NFC early adopters typically offered by mobile operators.

Rival Vodafone Italy recently announced that it would be launching a commercial NFC-based service in 2013.

Telecom Italia said the wallet will enable a range of financial services including payments in retail outlets and public transport as well as online and remote payments. The system also supports loyalty programmes, P2P money transfers both remotely and via NFC.

Gemalto and its partner HP Italy provide the platform over which Telecom Italia can offer services to the likes of banks, merchants, retailers, transport operators and public administrators.