ICICI Merchant Services (IMS) and MasterCard have joined hands in order to provide enhanced secure online transaction facilities to customers.

IMS is an alliance between First Data, a transaction processing firm and ICICI Bank.

IMS has become the first acquirer in India which would provide secure internet transactions using Maestro, a MasterCard brand.

Currently, 652-million Maestro cards are in circulation globally.

"IMS and First Data are committed to bringing a differential payments experience for the Indian ecommerce customers and is investing in business technology. The tie-up with MasterCard will provide a large portion of the Indian consumers the ability to utilise their Maestro debit cards online and make purchases from merchants in India and globally," IMS and First Data's General Manger, B Amrish Rau, said.

This enhancement would also widen the range of payment options supported by IMS. The online merchants of the company can now accept Maestro cards which have been issued anywhere in the world.