Retailer owned mobile payments consortium MCX has confirmed to NFC World that it will launch its CurrentC mobile wallet in an unspecified mid-sized US market soon, following the announcement that founder member Best Buy will begin to accept rival mobile payments service Apple Pay in its stores later this year.

“MCX expects to launch an early-stage version of the CurrentC app in mid-2015, in a mid-sized market, to help them develop and enhance functionality and user experience,” the consortium said. “The market will be determined based on a number of factors, including retail support, infrastructure and consumer population.”

“Best Buy remains a strong MCX partner and supporter of the CurrentC initiative,” MCX chief operating officer Scott Rankin said in a statement sent to NFC World. “At MCX, our core values stem from the customer. Our mission is to create an experience where the customer is empowered and at the center of every action.

“With that in mind, we understand — and strongly support — our merchant partners’ quest to do what’s best for their customers. As we have stated in the past, we are of the firm belief that there needs to be at least two to three major players within the mobile payments ecosystem for it to succeed.

“We remain steadfast and passionate about CurrentC, as well as completely focused on delivering the best mobile commerce solution for our merchant partners and for consumers.”

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