Payments processing technology provider Carta Worldwide has launched a turnkey kit that can be used by banks and mobile network operators to run an NFC prepaid payments pilot with up to 1,000 participants.

The kit includes NFC phones, SIM cards able to support NFC services, a wallet application and a MasterCard virtual card plus a product management and support suite.

"The value is that Carta can deliver very quickly — from one to 1,000 — one-off NFC-enabled phones at a very low cost compared to a full commercial development project, which can cost many millions of dollars before demonstrations even see the light of day," says Carta CEO Brian Semkiw. "It's really about giving banks and mobile network operators the tools to trial this exciting new payment technology."

Semkiw adds that the initiative provides clients with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of "the complete end-to-end NFC mobile payment environment and the real-world user experience, allowing for a better understanding of the many variables involved in the complex NFC ecosystem."