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Monitise Creates New Technology Centre in Wales

www.monitisegroup.com

30 March 2011

Monitise Creates New Technology Centre in Wales
Mobile R&D centre offers job opportunities for top talent
Monitise, the leading global mobile money provider, has today opened a new research and development technology centre in South Wales that will create 40 high quality jobs, with the potential for more in the future.
The centre will focus on the development and testing of mobile banking, payments and commerce services for Monitise, the latest in an increasing number of IT and tech companies to locate to the region.
Ieuan Wyn Jones, Minister for the Economy and Transport, officially opened the company’s research and testing centre in Nantgarw near Cardiff today and welcomed the company’s investment,which has been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Monitise chose Wales as its new location because of the expertise within local universities including the University of Glamorgan’s Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services, which already works with a number of key players in the mobile industry.
Mr Jones said: “Mobile money is the fastest growing banking and payments market globally and I am delighted thatwe've been able to attract such a prominent company in this field to establish their research centre in Wales, creating a significant number of high skilled jobs.
“Our Economic Renewal programme highlights the important role that research and development plays in stimulating innovation, a key driver of economic growth. The ICT and financial and professional services sectors are also identified as priority areas with high growth potential to support the expansion of the Welsh economy. Monitise operates across both these areas.
“We are committed to supporting companies operating in the high growth ICT industries, particularly those focused on the creation of more innovative content, services and applications - which makes this new investment so welcome.”
Monitise Chief Executive Alastair Lukies said: “As we broaden our services to additional partners and clients I am delighted to see our innovative technology centre in Wales open for business. Career opportunities for talented individuals entering today’s mobile banking world have broadened dramatically and this new development marks an important chapter in our continuing growth.”
Monitise Chief Information Officer Mike Keyworth said the company will be looking to forge strong links with local colleges and universities and to help train young graduates.
Mike Keyworth commented: “Our developers work across a wide range of technologies and we are excited by the opportunity to build our new base in Wales. The skills which developers and graduates are bringing into our business are broadening and improving all the time. That is increasingly important for an international technology business like ours that has mobile money services around the world.”
About Monitise
Monitise plc (LSE: MONI.L) is a global leader in Mobile Money solutions, with the proven technology and expertise to enable financial institutions and other service providers to offer a wide range of mobile banking and payments services to their customers in both developed and developing territories.
With live services in the UK and in the USA, where it is in partnership with FIS, the company is currently working with international partners to deliver similar safe, secure mobile banking and payment services in territories worldwide, including India, Africa and the Asia Pacific region. Current key partners include Visa Inc. and Visa Europe, VocaLink, FIS, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, First Direct, Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, Travelex, U.S. Bank, Ulster Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, 3 UK, Research In Motion, Best Buy, The Carphone Warehouse and First Eastern.
http://www.monitisegroup.com