MasterCard to Unleash Payment Innovation by Launch

MasterCard to Unleash Payment Innovation by Launching New Open API Developer Portal

Select MasterCard Payment and data services will be released via Open API to worldwide software developer community to create new, innovative payment applications

Auckland, 3 June 2010 – MasterCard Worldwide has announced that later this year it will release Open Application Programming Interfaces (Open APIs) for third–party and independent software developers around the world. By opening up previously proprietary payments and data services, developers will be able to create a new wave of e-commerce and mobile payment applications.

The new Open API programme is the first initiative from the newly created MasterCard Labs. A new developer portal will also be launched to enable developers to easily sign up for access to all of the Open APIs that MasterCard makes available will also be launched.

Through the portal, MasterCard will provide developers with technical documentation, software development kits (SDKs), sample source code, reference guides, and “virtual sandboxes” for testing new and innovative applications. A developer forum designed to spur collaboration between MasterCard engineers and developers will also be an integral component of the new portal.

“We are excited about tapping into the ingenuity of software developers around the globe to help create the next generation of game-changing payment applications,” said Josh Peirez, Chief Innovation Officer, MasterCard Worldwide. “We feel this will unleash innovation within our industry especially in the burgeoning areas of e-commerce and mobile payments.”

In addition to payments, MasterCard has identified approximately 20 platforms and services that it plans to open up via the portal. These platforms and services provide additional functionality and enhancements to MasterCard’s payment capabilities. The Open APIs will further enhance the development of new applications and systems beyond those currently available, including CRMs, ERPs, online games, merchant e-commerce web sites, eWallets, mobile applications, and payroll systems.

MasterCard payment and data services could also be integrated with other data sources and functions to create “mashups” – new applications that are a result of combining multiple data sources.

“Over the past few years, we have used some of our Open APIs internally to create groundbreaking new iPhone applications, such as MasterCard ATM Hunter and MasterCard Easy Savings,” said Garry Lyons, Group Executive, Research and Development, MasterCard Worldwide. “Opening these and other APIs to the global community of developers will provide the opportunity to leverage MasterCard’s leading payment platforms and come up with new ideas that may not have been previously thought possible.”

“In addition, our new Open API programme and developer portal will strengthen MasterCard’s position as an industry leader in innovation and give us an even greater competitive advantage as the payments industry continues to evolve,” said Lyons.

Interested developers should contact MasterCard at api@mastercard.com in order to learn more on how to participate in the program. By virtue of the guidelines applicable to the programme, all developers will be approved and registered by MasterCard to ensure that MasterCard payment and data services continue to be used appropriately and productively.

ENDS

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