ISO 12812-1:2017 defines the general framework of mobile financial services (payment and banking services involving a mobile device), with a focus on:

a) a set of definitions commonly agreed by the international financial industry,

b) the opportunities offered by mobile devices for the development of such services,

c) the promotion of an environment that reduces or minimizes obstacles for mobile financial service providers who wish to provide a sustainable and reliable service to a wide range of customers (persons and businesses), while ensuring that customers' interests are protected,

d) the different types of mobile financial services accessed through a mobile device including mobile proximate payments, mobile remote payments and mobile banking, which are detailed in other parts of ISO 12812,

e) the mobile financial services supporting technologies,

f) the stakeholders involved in the mobile payment ecosystems.

ISO 12812-1:2017 includes the following informative annexes:

- an overview of other standardization initiatives in mobile financial services (Annex A),

- a description of possible mobile payment business models (Annex B),

- a description of typical payment instruments which may be used (Annex C).