Cingular lands deals with banks for new mobile platform

Orlando (FL) - AT&T’s Cingular Wireless today announced that it has reached agreements with a handful of banks in the U.S., including Wachovia, to join in its upcoming mobile banking software.

Using a built-in application on Cingular’s cell phone platform, users will be able to pay their bills, transfer funds, and manage their accounts with the proprietary graphical user interface.

Wachovia is the only major bank to sign on during the initial stage of development. Others include Bancorp South, Regions Financial Corporation, and SunTrust Banks.

The move is the first of its kind for a U.S. wireless carrier, though parts of Europe and Asia have already moved into the mobile banking field years ago.

Though American users have historically been slower to adapt to mobile applications than areas like Japan, competition between carriers has helped to push the development of U.S.-based mobile services.