News from the Wire

FIME opens EMV testing center in Japan

Monday, December 16, 2013 — 12:33:05 (EST)

Tokyo, Dec. 16, 2013 -- FIME has expanded its global network with a new laboratory in Tokyo, Japan. The facility will enable EMV® payments and near-field-communication (NFC) stakeholders in Japan, to utilise FIME’s global secure chip and mobile device testing, and compliance expertise.

FIME, an advanced consulting and test services provider for end-to-end secure transactions, has opened its Japanese operation in order to better service demand from its ever-growing customer base in the Asia-Pacific region. From launch the team will provide mobile payment device testing for compliance to EMVCo Contactless Level 1, MasterCard Mobile PayPass specifications and JCB’s new J/Speedy™ EMV contactless payment scheme (coming soon). Additionally, the laboratory will offer consultancy services to support EMV and NFC stakeholders in understanding the secure-chip testing and certification landscape to ensure new products are brought to market successfully and efficiently.

“As Japan is one of the leading markets for the development and manufacture of secure chip products globally, it was important for us to establish our presence in this country and support local customers,” says Alex Chen at FIME Asia and responsible for the launch of the new office. “With the region currently gearing up for the roll out of mobile payment services through the three major Japanese MNOs, mobile payments ecosystem stakeholders can now take advantage of FIME's global expertise in order to achieve quicker time to market, reduced financial risk and overall costs."

Discussing FIME’s global expansion, Pascal Le Ray, General Manager at FIME, adds: “Our expansion into Japan is the latest step in FIME’s global growth plans. Over the last 12 months we have opened new test centres around the world – including the United States, Korea and now Japan – to be in closer proximity to industry stakeholders and better respond to their local, regional and international requirements. We feel this level of on-the-ground presence is essential in truly engaging with our clients, capturing their immediate needs and supporting their long-term requirements.”

FIME has a global presence across America, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and India, through its team of over 300 experts and consultants. The advanced testing provider partners with leading schemes and industry bodies to provide certifications and enhance the secure chip ecosystem. This includes: American Express, Discover, EMVCo, First Data, GlobalPlatform, GSMA, Interac, Isis, JCB, MasterCard, NFC Forum, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Smart Card Alliance and Visa.

About FIME

FIME advances end-to-end transaction solutions and mobile services, enabling market security and interoperability.

As an independent worldwide leader in consulting and testing services, FIME ensures the compliance of mobile devices and chip-based applications to industry standards. Its international team works with manufacturers, banks and authorities within the EMV payments, mobile near field communication (NFC), telecom, transport and e-identity sectors.

FIME offers a local presence across America, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and India, through its team of over 300 experts and consultants. Since 1995, FIME has expanded its global network of ISO 17025 accredited laboratories which provide official testing and certification services. FIME’s technical R&D expertise supports its customers’ technology implementations, accelerating time to market.

FIME partners with leading schemes and industry bodies to provide certifications and enhance the secure chip ecosystem: ACT Canada, American Express, ANSSI, Calypso Networks Association, Discover, eftpos, EMVCo, First Data, French National RFID Centre (CNRFID), GIXEL, GlobalPlatform, Global Certification Forum (GCF) GSMA, Interac, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Isis, JCB, MasterCard, NFC Forum, OSCar Consortium, Smart Card Alliance and Visa.

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Source: Company press release.