Credit card giant MasterCard released its PayPass User Interface Software Development Kit (UI SDK) for Android and BlackBerry 7 platforms, which it said “helps issuers, mobile network operators and third-party developers rapidly build innovative new mobile applications that give consumers the speed and convenience of PayPass Tap-and-Go contactless payments – directly from their smartphone”.

The company said that prior to launch of the kit, “highly specialised skills” were required to create apps which work with the NFC capabilities of devices such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII, HTC One X, Sony Xperia S, and BlackBerry Bold 9900. It is now offering “a programmer-friendly set of functions” which make it possible for developers to delivery payment apps to consumers.

It noted that more than 70 device models have been approved as PayPass-compatible.

Mung Ki Woo, group executive for Mobile at MasterCard, said: “Our first-ever UI SDK provides smart tools and makes it easier for our partners to issue a complete contactless payment solution on mobile”.

The tool kit is available for “developers of all levels”, including corporations, financial institutions, merchants, third party developers “and more”.