PayPal announced today that it has entered a strategic partnership with Maxis Berhad, the largest mobile operator in Malaysia. The two companies will offer online and mobile payment solutions to Maxis customers, of which there are over 12 million.

PayPal points out that this is the first time a mobile operator and a global online payments provider have teamed up on such an effort.

"Today, customers leave their house with three critical things: their mobile phone, wallet and keys," says PayPal’s Farhad Irani. "The Maxis-PayPal Account will let them access their wallet through their phone. With this new service, they’ll be able to live a cashless and card-free life, with their wallet safely protected, enjoying the flexibility, accessibility and security offered by PayPal’s services through the convenience of the Maxis payments channels.

Customers of the mobile operator will be able to shop online on their mobile devices, and soon on TVs using a Maxis PayPal log-in.

"Once Maxis’ customers sign up for an account, we hope that they will start to enjoy the other benefits that PayPal provides, from fast, convenient check out to additional buyer protections if an item doesn’t arrive," says Irani. "This partnership is a further milestone in PayPal’s short but dynamic history in Asia Pacific and will hopefully serve as a further boost to e-commerce and online payments for mobile in Malaysia leading to new levels of convenience and benefits to customers."

Last week, RCDb announced that it will be bringing PayPal to cable television services, Blu-ray players , and other connected TV devices.