US cellular operator Verizon Wireless is conducting a field trial of a new mobile payment solution developed with leading US payments processor Vantiv.  The solution is based on the Android OS and features point-of-sale capabilities.  Supporting applications will be available from the operator’s Private Application Store for Business. The vendor says this approach means its retail customers can customise POS applications for their particular needs while having the support of remote device management. Vantiv gave two examples of how the mobile-payment service might work: service staff meeting with customers at home or sales people interacting with shoppers.

Verizon Wireless is also backing a number of other mobile payment options. It is a member of the Isis joint venture with AT&T and T-Mobile USA which will launch its NFC-based mobile payments service later this year.  In addition, it sells a mobile payment reader made by Intuit which enables a smartphone to handle payments. Rival AT&T sells the same device while T-Mobile sells the Square reader, a competitive device. Fourth major mobile operator Sprint is in alliance with Google to offer its mobile payment service.