NFC Times Exclusive Insight – Relatively little noticed amid the widespread coverage of Google’s unveiling of its new Android Pay platform Thursday are the continued tokenization plays by major payment networks, Visa and MasterCard Worldwide, including Visa’s announcement of what is believed to be its token hub.

The payment schemes see a big opportunity in tokenizing cards on smartphones for mobile payments and were not about to miss an opportunity to tout their wares with the forthcoming launch of Android Pay. 

Both Visa and MasterCard have said–either publicly or privately–that they will waive token fees this year. After that, the fees will be significant, though they are open to negotiation, NFC Times has learned.