Taiwan’s Cathay United Bank has announced a partnership with Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) to launch an NFC payments pilot on the Taipei public transit network.

The pilot uses NFC-enabled Mobile Security Card SWP microSD cards from G&D Secure Flash Solutions, which bank customers can pop into their mobile phones to make contactless mobile payments for transit or in shops around Taipei. Cathay United Bank will provide trial participants with the micro SD card along with an NFC-enabled HTC Incredible E smart phone.

G&D’s microSD card, which will act as the secure element in the mobile device, is compliant with MasterCard PayPass standards and can be used as a contactless “EasyCard,” the popular contactless transit card for the Taipei Metro (MRT) and buses.

To make payments with the device, customers need only wave their HTC NFC phone over an EasyCard reader at fare gates, aboard buses, or in merchant stores.