Citi has launched a new mobile account management service that has been picked up by wireless carriers AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Citi and Firethorn Holdings LLC, a Qualcomm company, have introduced Citi Mobile for Cards, a mobile service that lets Citi credit card customers quickly and securely access real-time credit card account information on their mobile phones. Citi Mobile for Cards is now available to AT&T subscribers as part of AT&T Mobile Banking and to Verizon Wireless customers who download and use the free mobile banking application on its Get It Now service.

"At Citi, our goal is to be everywhere our customers need us to be and provide a superior customer experience through innovative, industry-leading products and services," said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing officer of Citi Global Cards, New York.

"As a recognized leader in mobile-phone-based consumer financial services, we want to provide the latest, cutting-edge solutions," he said. "To do so, we sought out ... Firethorn to deliver Citi Mobile for Cards and meet our cardmembers' demands for on-the-go account management.

"In addition, through our relationship with Firethorn, Citi benefits from not only their advanced mobile solutions and end-to-end customer support but also their commitment to driving adoption of mobile commerce."

Citi is currently working with our partners to determine the specifics of a mobile advertising plan.

There will be a variety of communications via email, statement messaging and online banner advertising to promote Citi Mobile for Cards.

"Citi is obviously a big name, and now AT&T customers have access to Citi Mobile for Cards as part of our existing mobile banking application, which is free to our customers, although data charges do apply," said Heather Buffington, spokeswoman for AT&T, Dallas, TX.

With Citi Mobile for Cards' interface, available at http://www.CitiCards.com, Citi cardmembers will have immediate and secure access to their credit card account information.

Information available on mobile devices includes real-time balances, items available for purchase, recent transaction history and rewards programs.

Citi Mobile for Cards transactions are secure with data encryption and are monitored for fraud.

In addition, no personal information is stored on the phone.

If a consumer's mobile phone is lost or stolen, Citi Mobile for Cards can be deactivated instantly.

For added security, Citi Mobile for Cards only permits access to accounts from the phone that is registered with the service and PIN authorization is required.

"The strategy behind our working with Citi and Firethorn is to provide an additional productivity tool for more than 70 million Verizon Wireless retail customers," said Todd Strickler, director of business development at Verizon Wireless, Basking Ridge, NJ.

"Our strategy behind offering mobile banking is providing Verizon customers with a feature they are asking for -- easy access to their most important banking information," he said.

"We are responding to consumer demand, especially with the current economic climate. Our marketing tactics are premium deck placement and promotion through our Get It Now Web sales site, where consumers are looking for the latest, greatest applications, whether on their mobile handsets or on the Web."

Citi Mobile for Cards is one of many services Citi is rolling out worldwide.

In addition to mobile, Citi is developing and delivering products and services for customers who commute via public transit, manage their money online and are seeking a more convenient retail branch experience.

To enroll in Citi Mobile for Cards and download the application at no charge, consumers can visit http://www.CitiMobile.CitiCards.com.

Citi, a leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries.

Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney, Banamex and Nikko.

Firethorn is a mobile commerce enabler chosen by some of the nation's leading financial institutions and wireless operators.

The Firethorn mobile wallet is a single, secure, certified application embedded on select wireless handsets.

The wallet enables financial institutions to deliver branded services to consumers via the mobile device; wireless operators to deliver mass-market applications to subscribers; and mobile device users to access and add multiple financial relationships with one password.

Firethorn has introduced an upgrade of its mobile application.

The upgrade will enable Firethorn to transition its financial institution and wireless operator relationships from banking to broader mobile commerce functionality.

"Firethorn's strategy is to move from mobile banking to mobile commerce as the market matures," said Stacey Pond, spokeswoman for Firethorn, Atlanta. "The new platform moves a little closer to that through the new features that get consumers using their phones in new ways.

"It also paves the way for financial institutions, wireless carriers and merchants to interact with consumers in a new way, while providing marketing opportunities and potential revenue generation," she said.

Expanded functionality will include the everyday convenience of mobile banking activities, such as balance inquiries, funds transfers and bill pay.

Other new features will provide new marketing opportunities for financial institutions, carriers and consumers.

Financial institutions also will have the ability to tailor the account information displayed on the customer's mobile device for each type of account.

By customizing what customers can access, banks and credit unions are able to drive users to the most pertinent account information.

All of Firethorn's carrier customers have immediate access to the new version -- AT&T, Verizon Wireless, CellularSouth and Alltel subscribers.

"Mobile banking is for anyone interested a new way to manage their finances," Firethorn's Ms. Pond said. "The main targeted audiences tend to be mobile enthusiasts, tech-savvy consumers, young professionals and career-focused young families."