EMV, contactless gaining U.S. ground

Contactless transit cards, mobile contactless payments and Europay/MasterCard/Visa (EMV) cards were the hot topics at the Smart Card Alliance 2010 Payment Summit held in Salt Lake City in February 2010.

Transit agency representatives from Toronto, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York City, the state of Utah and the San Francisco Bay Area discussed their contactless fare collection systems, as well as plans for expansion. Also in attendance were at least three major card brands.

The Smart Card Alliance noted the following good news: Oliver Manahan, Vice President for MasterCard Worldwide, said 12 U.S. airports are set to accept MasterCard PayPass. And Des Docherty, Vice President of Visa Inc., said 13,000 New York taxicabs accept contactless payments; he predicted all Metropolitan Transit Authority buses and transit systems will accept contactless payments in the next few years.

A number of the event's sessions addressed U.S. merchant acceptance of contactless payments. Many in attendance believe EMV contactless cards for U.S. citizens traveling abroad will be the next U.S. chip-based product to be rolled out.

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