Newcomer Zapp has announced a strategic partnership with payments processor Worldpay to offer its mobile payments service to thousands of merchants in the UK.

Zapp, which is owned by Vocalink, plans to make its service commercially available in 2014.

The new entrant says its service will be attractive because it can be embedded in existing mobile banking apps, so making it quick and easy for users to access without a new log-in or password.

Vocalink is the UK firm that physically processes payment data in the UK and is owned by the country’s leading banks and building societies.

Zapp’s service will work at the point of sale with a range of technologies including NFC and QR codes, it says.