Posted by Kellie on 23 February 2012
The three largest mobile phone networks in the UK are Vodafone, Everything Everywhere, and O2. These three companies have long planned a joint venture that would enable them to have a mobile payment scheme in place in time for the next Olympic Games, which take place in London this coming summer. Now, however, that joint venture has been cast into some doubt by news that regulatory hurdles may delay its inception – possibly until after the Games themselves.
This comes as a large disappointment to the companies involved, since the mobile payment scheme was developed in the first place with an eye toward having it ready for use when hordes of visitors descend on the nation’s capital to attend the various Olympic events to be held in and around London. The major roadblocks to the plan are the difficulties involved in working with the European Commission.
The joint venture expected to file paperwork with the commission’s regulators prior to Christmas 2011. As of today, the required papers have yet to be filed, in part because the European Commission keeps requesting additional data about the scheme. Final approval will take at least six weeks after the time the papers are filed, but it could take much longer if regulators feel that they need more information and evidence about the joint venture.
Three released a statement through its legal counsel, criticising the joint venture: "The Competition authorities in Brussels should not allow this type collaboration to go forward under any circumstances.”