AT&T plans to offer a nationwide mobile banking platform that will enable subscribers to view account balances and history, transfer funds and pay bills from their handsets. The carrier is working with Wachovia, SunTrust Banks and mobile banking and payment enabler Firethorn Holdings for the service. AT&T will begin preloading the application on handsets by year's end, which should make it easier for subscribers to locate the mobile banking icon and access the service.

AT&T adds that the banking app is also available for download on more than 30 handsets, representing roughly 30 million devices already in use. AT&T mobile banking access is free--data charges apply, but the carrier said the service is optimized to reduce the number of page views necessary to complete each transaction.

For more on the AT&T mobile banking service:
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