Since September 2, customers in France can use Wero, a new mobile payment platform, to pay for internet and mobile services. Orange, one of the country's largest telecom providers, has become the first major merchant to accept Wero payments, specifically for its Sosh brand. More companies are expected to follow suit, and the European Payment Initiative (EPI), which oversees Wero, recently held a press event to outline its plans for the coming months. With nearly 48 million users in France, Wero is positioning itself as a fast-growing alternative to traditional payment methods. Over the next few months, a dozen online retailers across Europe are expected to start accepting Wero as a payment option. The EPI has already confirmed that several major names, including Lidl, Decathlon, Air France-KLM, Veepee, E.Leclerc, Kiabi, and HelloAsso, will join the platform. In Germany, where PayPal dominates online payments, Lidl and Decathlon have already been using Wero for some time. This expansion reflects growing interest in the platform, especially as more consumers and businesses look for secure, efficient payment solutions. French banks are also preparing to integrate Wero into their services. While some, like BoursoBank, have already announced plans to join by the end of 2026, others, such as Société Générale, are expected to begin offering Wero services as early as November. The EPI notes that national concerns over financial sovereignty played a key role in convincing banks to adopt Wero. For merchants, the platform's lower transaction fees were a major selling point. By the end of the year, Wero aims to be available through all major French banks. Wero's ambitions go beyond just competing with PayPal and Apple Pay. The EPI envisions a future where Wero can rival major global payment platforms like Google Pay and others by 2027. The company is exploring features such as NFC payments and a digital wallet to enhance its service. In the long term, Wero aims to become a "mega-app" that consolidates multiple banking and financial services, similar to WeChat or Alipay in China. In the near future, European banks plan to add a "Pay with Wero" button to e-commerce websites. Partner banks like Revolut, Société Générale, and La Banque Postale will offer this feature once it is fully implemented. The new payment method is designed to be faster and more convenient, allowing users to complete transactions by scanning a QR code with their smartphones. No bank authorization is required, and payments are processed instantly.