NEWSChase Paymentech Solutions LLC, a merchant acquirer and payment processor, released an updated version of its Cyber Holiday Pulse Index, which monitors online shopping activity through the holiday season. The 2009 Index will gather statistics from more than 1 million payment transactions a day at the top U.S. retail e-stores (as identified by Internet Retailer magazine).
This year's index will provide year-over-year comparisons. In addition, this third annual survey will include daily average ticket value for a more detailed analysis of holiday trends. In 2008, online holiday sales volume and number of transactions increased, but the average ticket amount decreased from the previous year.
"The Pulse Index will help the business community track the heartbeat of online shopping trends throughout the season," said Mike Duffy, President of Chase Paymentech.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve agreed to delay implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA). The UIGEA requires the financial sector to adhere to what the Washington, D.C.-based Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative claims are ambiguous and burdensome rules.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., held a hearing Dec. 3, 2009, to discuss the legislation and a means of regulating the industry rather than banning Internet gambling in the United States altogether. Sen. Frank introduced the Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (H.R. 2267) in May 2009. A companion bill, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act (H.R. 2268), introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., could reportedly generate nearly $42 billion over 10 years for the Treasury Department.
A partnership between Affiliated Computer Services Inc. and MasterCard Worldwide has resulted in agreements with two East Coast airports to allow motorists to pay for airport parking with a tap of a PayPass-enabled MasterCard.
The roll-outs at Philadelphia International Airport and Miami International Airport began in November and December 2009, respectively. At PIA, PayPass terminals will be installed in 34 exit lanes for access to approximately 18,600 parking spaces. At MIA, which has more than 8,700 parking spaces, over 50 entry and exit lanes will be equipped with PayPass.
Ray Diaz, Chief of Commercial Operations at Miami International Airport, said that "implementing MasterCard PayPass will enable us to simplify parking for our customers and avoid congestion by ensuring speed and efficiency using our airport parking facilities."
The ACS payment terminals will also accept conventional magnetic stripe cards from all card providers. "We have worked in tandem with MasterCard for several years, providing value and efficiencies to the airports we serve by helping them simplify travelers' lives," said Dave Amoriell, Executive Vice President and President of ACS Transportation Solutions Group.
ACS has already implemented and manages similar programs in 20 U.S. airports, including Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk, Va.
ANNOUNCEMENTSPayment provider 3Delta Systems Inc. received certification for Web-based merchant credit card and purchase card transactions from Chase Paymentech.
"On average, we save our customers 30 percent on their payment processing costs compared to what they're currently spending, largely due to better interchange-rate qualification that Level 3 line-item detail provides," said Aaron Bills, Chief Operating Officer and founder of 3Delta Systems.
In other news, RBS WorldPay certified 3Delta Systems for electronic payment transactions. RBS is the U.S.-based payment processing division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC.
Blue Bamboo, a division of Shera International, is launching its BlueWave CT100 near field communication (NFC)-enabled terminal and reader in December 2009. The CT100, based on 13.56MHz contactless technology, works with such contactless cards as ISO 14443 Type A and B, Mifare, Mifare Plus and FeliCa cards.
Hypercom Corp. unveiled its compact R3210 contactless reader at Cartes & Identification 2009 held in France from Nov. 17 through 19. Additionally, Hypercom's Wymix PIN Pad received MasterCard payWave certification. The device's contactless antenna enables it to receive payments via contactless cards and NFC-enabled mobile phones.
MasterCard introduced its MasterCard Mobile Payments Gateway for financial institutions and mobile network operators to process mobile payments through the MasterCard Worldwide Network.
"The Mobile Payments Gateway will help to make mobile payments a way of life for mobile phone users around the world," said Joshua Peirez, Group Executive of Innovative Platforms for MasterCard.
Eleven-year-old payment provider Merchant Warehouse exceeded its goal of receiving 3,000 merchant applications in October 2009 by accepting 3,332 applications for the month. This is the most applications the company has received in one month. David B. Isa, Director of Internal Sales at Merchant Warehouse, said the record exemplifies the "growth and success the company has experienced over the past couple of years, with no end in sight."
Pivotal Payments made the finalists' list for Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies award. The nominees, all companies with earnings in excess of $10 million, are judged based on business performance, sustained growth and overall organizational efforts.
The award, established in 1993, is sponsored by Deloitte LLP, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post Inc. and Queen's School of Business. Winners will be selected March 8, 2010.
Sage Payment Solutions, a division of Sage North America, joined the PCI Security Standards Council. Sage executives will collaborate with other participating organizations on the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS) and other payment card data protection standards. Sage North America is part of The Sage Group PLC.
Effective Dec. 1, 2009, Total Merchant Services Inc. removed the five-deal minimum for its upfront bonus qualification. Agents choose from several revenue sharing programs on a per-merchant basis.
Visa Inc. opened a new global data processing center in the eastern United States which it said enhances its VisaNet processing network.
The biggest upgrade is the implementation of a new operating system, developed with International Business Machines Corp., called z Transaction Processing Facility.
ViVOtech Inc. launched its ViVOtag NFC sticker and the back-end ViVOapps mLoyalty redemption software at Cartes & Identification 2009.
ViVOtech said that with this combined solution, merchants can deliver targeted mobile advertising, marketing and loyalty programs to their customers. The contactless loyalty solution can adapt any mobile phone to receive the service.
PARTNERSHIPSCO-OP Financial Services extended its partnership with Cardtronics Inc. to provide the CO-OP Financial Network for ATMs in 7-Eleven Inc. stores nationwide. "The key to credit union membership growth is making access to accounts easy and convenient," said Stan Hollen, President and Chief Executive Officer of CO-OP Financial Services.
Dogster Inc. teamed with Tempo Payments Inc. to deliver customizable affinity debit cards to its members. Dogster and Catster members apply online for the cards, which are powered by Tempo's Web-based debit card platform. Members may then customize the cards with a photo of a pet and link the cards to their checking accounts.
Gemalto NV demonstrated the interoperability of its NFC subscriber identity module card with Nokia Corp.'s NFC-enabled Nokia 6216 mobile handsets at Cartes & Identification 2009. "Nokia and Gemalto have closely collaborated to enable the ecosystem to take the next step in the rollout of NFC and ensure a positive experience for consumers," said Jeremy Belostock, Head of New Technology Solutions at Nokia. In addition, Gemalto, partnering with eSecure Technology Inc., integrated Secure Access Modules into existing EasyCard terminals in Taiwan, which upgrades the terminals for use with contactless cards.
HSBC Merchant Services LLP, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Payments Inc., and Ingenico extended their partnership to include a four-year deal worth approximately $21.63 million. Ingenico will provide HSBC merchants advanced services and will deploy 37,000 payment terminals to its merchants within the United Kingdom.
Payment provider Monext partnered with Vasco Data Security International Inc., a provider of authentication, to deliver the Optimized Security Solution. The product is customizable and enables clients to manage all authentication methods, including matrix cards, public key infrastructure certificates, mobile authentication and password generators.
Nextep Systems and Manufacturing Resources International partnered to roll out a touch-screen kiosk solution for quick service restaurant drive-through ordering. With MRI kiosks powered with Nextep software, diners can touch the screen, and the ordering information will display at eye level. The kiosk includes a bar code scanner and card reader.
Payments Processing Inc., a provider of integrated payment solutions, made its PayPros PCI Compliance Relief Program for Developers available. The program uses the PPI PayMover Hosted Payment Service. PPI partnered with Chief Security Officers LLC to deliver this solution to address Payment Application DSS validation at a reduced, fixed price. Full funding for qualified software developers is also available.
PPI also released its PayPros PCI Compliance Program for Businesses, which includes a breach reimbursement guarantee. This product was made possible through a partnership with Digital Resources Group, an Approved Scanning Vendor and Qualified Security Assessor.
U.S. electronics retailer pcRush Inc. signed an agreement with Mazooma Inc. to integrate Mazooma's real-time, bank-authenticated debit payment solution on pcRUSH.com to allow pcRush customers to pay online for purchases in cash.
Sonoma Technical Support Services partnered with JR's POS Depot to provide the terminal distributor's clients with support for Hypercom Optimum M4230 and T4230 terminals. Rod Hometh, Senior Vice President of North American Sales for Hypercom Corp., said, "Providing this offering through JR's POS Depot, Hypercom has access to a significant ISO channel that focuses on the mobile merchant market segment."
Atlanta-based Veracity Payment Solutions forged a multiyear alliance with SecureNet Payment Systems LLC. Veracity will acquire a portion of SecureNet's merchant portfolio and the ability to offer SecureNet Internet processing solutions, which include electronic invoicing, "PINless" debit and automated clearing house processing. This agreement reportedly doubles the number of VPS merchant locations nationwide.
VerifySmart signed a memorandum of understanding with Tony Cinotti, who represents a consortium of financial service management executives, to form a joint venture company with the consortium. The new company will roll out a proprietary suite of anti-fraud technologies to financial institutions, businesses and economic development groups across North America, South America and Europe.
Las Vegas-based Xcellink International Inc. partnered with 3i Infotech for the development and integration of its software with Apple Inc.'s iPhone technology. The 3i development team expects to be testing the integration in early January 2010.
ACQUISITIONSNew York-based payments software and solution provider ACI Worldwide Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Euronet Essentis Ltd., a division of Euronet Worldwide. Watford, U.K.-based EEL is both a card issuer and merchant acquirer.
Gemalto and Xiring, a provider of smart card-based authentication solutions for e-commerce and electronic banking, entered into exclusive negotiations regarding Gemalto's acquisition of Xiring's banking activity. Completion of the acquisition is expected by the end of 2009. Details will be released after finalization of the negotiation and signing of the contract.
APPOINTMENTSTo head its recently acquired and renamed CO-OP Member Call Center, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based CO-OP Financial Services hired Mark Chatfield, who left CUNA Mutual Group to assume the position of Chief Operating Officer for the call center.
Truxx, a division of Metro Merchant Services that addresses the payment needs of the trucking industry, appointed Sean Jones as President. "Many merchants have never been shown what it actually costs to process a credit card," Jones said.
"Truxx will show a merchant the true cost compared to what they are paying, as well as the additional savings they'll realize when they implement Cost Plus and Level II Merchant Accounts."
Charge Card Systems Inc. made two changes to its executive team. The company promoted 10-year payment veteran Johnny Perez to Payment Card Industry Compliance Manager and invited Jeff Cohen on board as Director of Marketing. Cohen has 15 years' experience in marketing.
Hamilton, Bermuda-based First Atlantic Commerce, an international payment gateway, welcomed Ronnie Viera as its Senior Vice President of Information Technology & Operations. Additionally, FAC promoted Christopher Burns from Vice President, International Business Development, to Senior Vice President, Business Development.
North American Bancard Inc. hired Marty Wood to its team of National Sales Managers. "Marty's addition to NAB has already had a significant impact upon our sales team and enhanced our overall growth and performance," said Marc Gardner, President and CEO of NAB. "In the four months Marty has been with us, we have already exceeded our recruitment goals."
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