Mastercard’s Masterpass To Be Part Of New OnStar Go

Mastercard reportedly will be included as a payment option in a new intelligent dashboard that is being created by IBM Watson for General Motors.

According to the report, the new platform, dubbed OnStar Go, will enable drivers to access merchants and brands so they can access shopping menus and purchase things using Mastercard’s Masterpass. The report noted that, with the new “cognitive mobility” platform, users can get gas and pay for it via the dashboard. They will also get help avoiding traffic and preordering coffee. The report noted it will be rolled out across GM vehicles in the U.S. starting next year.

Masterpass is Mastercard’s push into the digital payments world, and in September, the company provided an update on its progress. “Around the globe, we continue to work with our bank and merchant customers to deliver new features and functionality to Masterpass that not only solve for their needs but address the issues facing the ultimate customer — the consumer. In doing so, we’ve developed a platform that’s second-to-none and unique in the market today. The global momentum we’re achieving with banks, merchants and consumers is proof-positive of our efforts to create simple and secure digital payment experiences anywhere consumers want to shop,” said James Anderson, executive vice president of digital payment products at Mastercard, at the time.

Masterpass is currently available in 33 markets, with plans to expand into 36 by the end of this year. In July, Masterpass formally announced the launch of its omnichannel, all-digital payment service for issuers, merchants and consumers built on the back of Mastercard’s network tokenization to provide security. Masterpass has also expanded the offers it makes possible for its issuing banks, including the ability to construct their own customized payments function within the context of their current mobile offerings. Those functions can include enhancements to their current product suite, including their mobile banking application or an integration of their current proprietary services, such as balance display, purchase alerts and paying with points.