Visa launches four new mobile payments initiatives through its Visa mobile platform in Brazil, Korea, along with two mobile offers and transaction notification pilots in the US. Visa teamed with Banco do Brasil’s Visa cardholders to pay with their mobile device and confirm the transaction via text message.

In another program launched in Korea, Visa has partnered with T-Money provider KSCC (Korea Smart Card Company), card issuer Shinhan Bank and Korea Telecom Freetel (KTF) to allow commuters to top up their T-Money balances automatically on the phone’s SIM card when it falls below a certain level. T-Money are rechargeable series of cards and other smart devices utilised for paying transportation fares in and around South Korea’s capital Seoul and other areas of the South Korea.

In the US, Visa has partnered with Chase Bank for a pilot program to deliver personalised mobile offers to selected consumers in Phoenix, Arizona. More than 50 merchants are participating in the program which has the capacity to provide offers such as discounts or special deals via SMS to 5,000 participants. Users will be able to redeem these offers at the merchant’s location or online. The pilot will also cover special game day offers for baseball fans attending games at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Visa is also working with PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the US, and RBC, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada, to trial an e-mail and SMS alerts service which notifies participating cardholders every time a transaction related to their bank account occurs. The service is designed to provide cardholders with an effective way to monitor and manage their accounts.