Page 18 - GS140101
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IndustryUpdatedustryUpdate
In ChapterTitle
ANNOUNCEMENTS options, including wallets with our Universal Wallet
API."
Alliance Virtual gets into bitcoin Tactile Unwrapping comes to CashStar
Alliance Virtual Offices now accepts bitcoin as a form Electronic gift card network operator CashStar Inc.
of payment on its global virtual office e-commerce unveiled Tactile Unwrapping, the newest module in its
platform. The company touted the move, stating, as an mobile platform. Tactile Unwrapping replicates the gift
example, that a client with virtual offices in New York unwrapping experience in a digital medium. Digital gift
and London that employs Dutch nationals living in recipients "unwrap" their virtual cards using fingertips
Hong Kong can now accept bitcoin transactions without on touchscreen-enabled devices, or with a mouse on
incurring traditional exchange rate fees. desktops and laptops, CashStar said.
AmEx to settle class-action litigations Debit Network Alliance formed
The American Express Co. said it agreed to settle two Ten PIN debit networks in the United States formed a
antitrust class-action lawsuits filed by U.S. merchants new company, Debit Network Alliance, as a standards
that challenged the card brand's card acceptance agree- body to help facilitate the adoption of an interop-
ments. The settlement will address merchant concerns, erable Europay/MasterCard/Visa debit standard in
help to ensure that AmEx cardholders are treated fairly the United States. The founding networks of the alli-
at the POS and limit the company's exposure to future ance are the Armed Forces Financial Network, ATH,
legal claims, according to AmEx. CO-OP Financial Services, Jeanie Network, Network for
Electronic Transfers, NYCE Payments Network LLC,
CardinalCommerce's transaction numbers up Presto!, Pulse, Shazam and the STAR Network.
CardinalCommerce Corp. reported that 55 percent more ETA rebrands annual expo
transactions were authenticated via its Cardinal Centinel
platform in 2013 than in 2012. "Shoppers are asking The Electronic Transactions Association renamed its next
merchants to accept alternative payments for their pur- tradeshow Transact 14: Powered by ETA. "Transact 14 is
chases," said Tara Lavelle, Vice President of Marketing reflective of the worldwide paradigm shift in payments,
at CardinalCommerce. "With one connection to Centinel, ETA's double-digit growth, and record attendance and
merchants can access more than 100 alternative payment
• The latest Scotiabank Global Auto Report stated that
year-over-year advances in global auto sales for 2014 are
projected in all regions but Europe. Passenger vehicle
sales in the United States are expected to climb to 16
million units, the highest level since 2007.
• ComScore Inc. reported consumers spent $42.8 billion
via online desktop computers through the fnal week-
end before Christmas 2013, up 10 percent from a year
ago.
• Research by The NPD Group Inc. revealed the sale of
premium-priced beauty products in the U.S. reached
$2.2 billion for the 12 months ending November 2013,
up 23 percent from the same period the previous year.
18
In ChapterTitle
ANNOUNCEMENTS options, including wallets with our Universal Wallet
API."
Alliance Virtual gets into bitcoin Tactile Unwrapping comes to CashStar
Alliance Virtual Offices now accepts bitcoin as a form Electronic gift card network operator CashStar Inc.
of payment on its global virtual office e-commerce unveiled Tactile Unwrapping, the newest module in its
platform. The company touted the move, stating, as an mobile platform. Tactile Unwrapping replicates the gift
example, that a client with virtual offices in New York unwrapping experience in a digital medium. Digital gift
and London that employs Dutch nationals living in recipients "unwrap" their virtual cards using fingertips
Hong Kong can now accept bitcoin transactions without on touchscreen-enabled devices, or with a mouse on
incurring traditional exchange rate fees. desktops and laptops, CashStar said.
AmEx to settle class-action litigations Debit Network Alliance formed
The American Express Co. said it agreed to settle two Ten PIN debit networks in the United States formed a
antitrust class-action lawsuits filed by U.S. merchants new company, Debit Network Alliance, as a standards
that challenged the card brand's card acceptance agree- body to help facilitate the adoption of an interop-
ments. The settlement will address merchant concerns, erable Europay/MasterCard/Visa debit standard in
help to ensure that AmEx cardholders are treated fairly the United States. The founding networks of the alli-
at the POS and limit the company's exposure to future ance are the Armed Forces Financial Network, ATH,
legal claims, according to AmEx. CO-OP Financial Services, Jeanie Network, Network for
Electronic Transfers, NYCE Payments Network LLC,
CardinalCommerce's transaction numbers up Presto!, Pulse, Shazam and the STAR Network.
CardinalCommerce Corp. reported that 55 percent more ETA rebrands annual expo
transactions were authenticated via its Cardinal Centinel
platform in 2013 than in 2012. "Shoppers are asking The Electronic Transactions Association renamed its next
merchants to accept alternative payments for their pur- tradeshow Transact 14: Powered by ETA. "Transact 14 is
chases," said Tara Lavelle, Vice President of Marketing reflective of the worldwide paradigm shift in payments,
at CardinalCommerce. "With one connection to Centinel, ETA's double-digit growth, and record attendance and
merchants can access more than 100 alternative payment
• The latest Scotiabank Global Auto Report stated that
year-over-year advances in global auto sales for 2014 are
projected in all regions but Europe. Passenger vehicle
sales in the United States are expected to climb to 16
million units, the highest level since 2007.
• ComScore Inc. reported consumers spent $42.8 billion
via online desktop computers through the fnal week-
end before Christmas 2013, up 10 percent from a year
ago.
• Research by The NPD Group Inc. revealed the sale of
premium-priced beauty products in the U.S. reached
$2.2 billion for the 12 months ending November 2013,
up 23 percent from the same period the previous year.
18
