Westpac drops WAP banking service

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 13 October 2004 15:54

IT Industry - Development

Westpac Banking Corporation has dropped its WAP mobile phone banking service, advising customers that it will no longer be available from 23 October. In a letter to customers Westpac wrote: "From 23 October 2004, the Westpac banking site will no longer support wireless application protocol (WAP) internet banking through your mobile phone."

Westpac went on to write this gem: "But there are other ways to do your banking." Well gosh Westpac, thanks for telling us, we're glad to know that there's a way of getting at our money if we need to. Not to mention this one: "You can access telephone banking or internet banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." Somehow, we can't seem to find a point of differentiation from other banks here. Finally, Westpac delivered this cracker: "These services offer everything that WAP does and more." Really? Can I still do internet banking on my mobile phone?

So far, we haven't had a chance to get an explanation from Westpac for dropping WAP banking. However, the first question we'll ask is whether it has anything to do with security concerns.

Westpac has been in the ICT news quite a bit lately, given that it recently cut short its telecommunications outsourcing contract with IBM so that it could go direct with Telstra. Come to think of it, is there a possible tie in here with the WAP story, or is that drawing too long a bow?