MasterCard Renews Multi-Year Payment Technology Agreement with Transaction Network Services

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Transaction Network Services (NYSE:TNS) has renewed its agreement with MasterCard to provide payment server software for MasterCard’s ecommerce platform, the MasterCard Internet Gateway Service (MiGS).

MiGS provides an outsourced payment gateway service for MasterCard’s bank acquirers and merchant customers. The MiGS platform provides Card-Not-Present transactions for online activities, including eCommerce and purchases via mobiles and telephones. It is used worldwide by more than 70 bank acquirers and over 17,000 merchants.



This renewed agreement cements the relationship between the TNS Payments Division and MasterCard which began in 2007.

Shuan Ghaidan, Group Head, Customer Delivery, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa Region, MasterCard, said:

“The agreement with TNS was renewed because of their track record for supporting our business needs over the term of our previous agreement. This renewed agreement will enable MasterCard to continue to deliver value to customers through our market-leading hosted processing services.  “With TNS’ payments technology, MasterCard can continue to offer flexible payment types and administrative tools for empowering our customers, ensuring a secure environment for transactions, and simplifying the customers’ payment experience.”

TNS supports MiGS with payment software for a range of online payments services commonly used in Card-Not-Present transactions. TNS technology enables processing of multi-regional card transactions and supports a secure, reliable and efficient payments environment.



John Banfield, Senior Vice President and General Manager of TNS’ Asia Pacific Payments Division, said: “TNS is proud to be the chosen technology partner for the MiGS eCommerce processing platform. This agreement affirms TNS’ commitment to MasterCard’s vision of the future of eCommerce.”



TNS is a global provider of payment solutions, connecting merchants and retailers to the world’s leading banks, acquirers and processors to enable secure, efficient and cost-effective delivery and processing of payments. TNS’ Payments Division provides a wide array of end-to-end managed solutions designed specifically for the payments market, including solutions for acquirers, processors, merchants and other payment service providers.



For more information about TNS visit www.tnsi.com.



About Transaction Network Services:

Transaction Network Services (TNS) is an international data communications company that enables payments, money and voices, to move around the world. TNS’ mission is to enable the world to transact. It does this through a broad range of networking, communications and value added services, which it provides to many of the world’s leading retailers, banks/processors, telecommunications companies and financial markets.

Since its inception in 1990, TNS has designed and implemented multiple data networks, each designed specifically for the transport of transaction-oriented data. TNS' networks support a variety of widely accepted communications protocols and are designed to be scalable and accessible by multiple methods. Today, TNS has offices throughout the world serving customers in 40 countries with the ability to provide services in other countries. For further information about TNS, visit www.tnsi.com

Statements and information contained in our press releases and newsletters that are not descriptions of historical fact may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or performance and from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods. www.tnsi.com



About MasterCard Worldwide:

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com. Follow us on Twitter: @mastercardnews.





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Australian Credit Card Customers 2009

Australian Credit Card Customers 2009

Visa and MasterCard face increasing competition from American Express in Australia



8.03.2010 18:15:49 Australian Credit Card Customers 2009 - a new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com

(live-PR.com) - www.companiesandmarkets.com/Summary-Market-Repor ..



Australian credit card customers 2009 is an invaluable insight into the behaviour and preferences of Australian credit card holders. The report focuses on key issues including card spending, reasons for card choice and preferred providers and sales channels.



Scope



*Based on Datamonitor´s Australian Financial Services Survey of 2,300 adult consumers conducted in April 2009.



*Survey findings related to specific providers.



*Includes a detailed discussion of historical developments i n the Australian credit card market.



*Includes analysis of upcoming trends and developments.



Highlights



Use of payment cards has increased strongly over the last five years, with debit cards used for lower transaction values and credit cards dominating larger transactions.



American Express, Citibank and Bankwest cardholders are especially likely to have used the company website as a source of information when choosing main card provider.



When consumers were asked to rank seven common product features in terms of the importance they would carry when choosing a new card, lower fees were overwhelmingly the most important factor.



Reasons to Purchase



*Confirm what consumers look for when choosing a credit card.



*Quantify the benefit of card features such as reward schemes and lower fee offers.



*Better understand consumers´ channel preferences when arranging a credit card.

Author - Mike King

e-mail



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Gemalto’s Innovative Machine-to-Machine Solution Receives “2009 SmartGrid Product of the Year” Award from TMC.com

AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, today announced that its MASSIM solution has received a 2009 SmartGrid Product of the Year Award from Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) and Intelligent Communications Partners.



Gemalto has developed a unique technological advancement aimed at meeting smart grid service needs. The MASSIM concept is an M2M specific solution specifically designed to detect if a machine-to-machine wireless network subscriber identification module has been removed from a utility meter and placed illegally within another device. This detection ensures the essential connectivity element within the smart grid ecosystem is tamper proof, protecting the utility and wireless operator from fraud. MASSIM is highly customizable with multiple environmental sensing parameters and sends a service provider alert in the event of unexpected change.



“MASSIM is continuously sensing its environment, protecting assets and allowing for tamper proof denial of network access,” said Frédéric Vasnier, SVP Telecom at Gemalto. “We are honored to receive this award recognizing our commitment to advancing the innovation and demanding security needs for machine-to-machine applications and smart grid technologies.”



“SmartGrid.TMCnet.com is pleased to grant a 2009 Product of the Year Award to Gemalto for their MASSIM. Gemalto has proven they are committed to quality and excellence while addressing real needs in the marketplace,” said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. “We’re proud to honor their accomplishments in the advancement of the smart grid technologies.”



The First Annual SmartGrid.TMCnet.com Product of the Year Award winners are featured on the SmartGrid Web site and published in its e-newsletter.

For more information about the 2009 SmartGrid Product of the Year Awards or any of the TMC media properties, please visit www.tmcnet.com. For more information about Gemalto’s wireless telecommunication solutions, visit www.gemalto.com/telecom.



About Smart Grid



The Smart Grid portal on TMCnet serves as a resource for the rapidly developing technologies that enable and harness Smart Grids, with particular emphasis on applications, products and software for improving residential, business, institutional and facilities’ power consumption.



TMCnet’s Smart Grid Web portal offers free resources for anyone interested in researching, purchasing and applying smart grid technologies. It includes Smart Grid industry news and expert analysis by Jon Arnold and Shidan Gouran of Intelligent Communications Partners. Additionally this portal encompasses Global Online Communities and Channels, blogs, feature articles, videos and more. Visitors can be regularly updated on what is happening across a spectrum of organizations involved in hardware, wireless communications for video, phone and data and other niches in the Smart Grid market.



About TMC



Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) is a global integrated media company helping our clients build communities in print, in person and online. TMC publishes Customer Interaction Solutions, INTERNET TELEPHONY, Unified Communications, and NGN magazines. TMCnet, TMC's Web site, is the leading source of news and articles for the communications and technology industries. TMCnet is read by two million unique visitors each month on average worldwide, according to Webtrends. TMCnet has ranked within the top 3,500 in Quantcast's Top U.S. sites, placing TMCnet in the nation’s top .03% most visited Web sites. In addition, TMC produces INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO (ITEXPO); SmartGrid Conference and M2M Evolution (in conjunction with Crossfire Media); Digium|Asterisk World (in conjunction with Digium); and Smart Grid Summit (in conjunction with Intelligent Communication Partners). For more information about TMC, visit http://tmcnet.com/.



TMC also serves technology professionals with industry-specific Web sites: IT.TMCnet.com, 4G-wirelessevolution.TMCnet.com, M2M Evolution.com, Smart-Grid.TMCnet.com, Smart Products Ecosystem, Robotics.TMCnet.com, Cable.TMCnet.com, Satellite.TMCnet.com, Green.TMCnet.com, Healthcare.TMCnet.com, and Education.TMCnet.com.



For more information about TMC, visit www.tmcnet.com.

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2009 annual revenues of €1.65 billion, and over 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, with research and service centers in 41 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM), Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICC) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6204582&lang=en





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Increasing Online Identity Fraud Highlights the Need for Consumers to Better Protect Themselves

During National Consumer Protection Week Capital One Offers Important Tips to Stay Safe from ID Theft and Fraud While Online

MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) joins government agencies and national advocacy organizations in support of National Consumer Protection Week, March 7-13, 2010. This year’s theme, Dollars & Sense: Rated “A” for All Ages, focuses on helping people at all stages of life become informed and empowered consumers. With consumers, from teens to seniors, increasingly using online and mobile technologies, it is important for people of all ages to know how they can steer clear of online scams and identify theft.



“For many consumers, filling out forms and typing in sensitive personal information has become almost second nature, but it’s important to be alert and aware of the potential risks online”



A recent study, which shows a significant increase in identity fraud in 2009, highlights the need for greater consumer awareness when it comes to avoiding scams and identity theft. According to the Javelin Strategy & Research 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report, the number of identity fraud victims in the United States jumped in 2009 by 12 percent from the previous year to 11.1 million adults – the highest increase since the survey was first conducted in 2003. The survey also found an increase in computer-based crimes, indicating that thieves are increasingly taking advantage of online channels.



“For many consumers, filling out forms and providing sensitive personal information has become almost second nature, but it’s important to be alert and aware of the potential risks online,” said Shelley Solheim, Director of Financial Education for Capital One. “Identity theft and fraud are threats that can impact anyone – no one is immune. Know who you are dealing with online, and never give out personal information to someone you don’t know.”



In support of National Consumer Protection week, Capital One offers these simple tips to empower consumers of all ages to protect themselves from identity theft and reduce the risk of falling victim to online fraud.



General online safety tips

• Keep your web browsers and operating system up to date – Most software developers release updates of their software on a regular basis that provide fixes to known problems, improve performance, and provide new functionality. In general, it’s up to the user to decide if and when software should be updated or upgraded to a new release. Upgrading and keeping your software current can ensure that your system has the highest level of protection.


• Ignore suspicious emails and never click on links asking for personal information – Watch out for emails from scammers offering to give away free money or asking for help moving a large sum of money. Another common scam involves a plea from someone claiming to be stranded in a foreign country, possibly helping a loved one, and needing your money to get back home. This scam has even been conducted through social networking sites.


• Beware of bogus online donation scams – Following the Haiti earthquake, the FBI is advising people to be careful when evaluating donation programs related to the earthquake. Scam emails have already emerged; one was an email that purported to come from the British Red Cross soliciting donations. Be wary of people claiming to be an official or a victim asking for a donation. Instead of following a link in an email, go directly to the charity’s website. And never release your personal information to someone soliciting money.

When shopping online

• Use secure online shopping sites – To ensure that your information is protected when shopping online, look for an unbroken key or padlock at the bottom of your web browser when providing payment information. When you’re asked to provide payment information, the beginning of the Web site’s URL address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating that the purchase is encrypted or secured.


• Check out the seller – Look for online merchants who are members of a seal-of-approval program that sets voluntary guidelines for privacy-related practices, such as TRUSTe (www.truste.org), Verisign (www.verisign.com), or BBBonline (www.bbbonline.org). If it’s your first time on an unfamiliar site, call the seller’s phone number, so you know you can reach them if you need to. If you can’t find a working phone number, take your business elsewhere.


• Use caution with social media – Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly used by retailers to promote new deals and disseminate coupons. Unfortunately, scammers are also using these sites, often masquerading as a friend to deliver malicious links that can allow hackers to steal personal information. Keep this in mind when using social media tools and be particularly suspicious of messages or promotions you did not sign up to receive. Instead of following links, go directly to the store’s website and navigate to find the special sale item.


• Never give out your account information or social security number – Never respond to emails or instant messages that ask you to provide account information for “verification.” Don’t follow links to websites in such emails either. These are known as “phishing” scams and are used to collect account information that can then be used for fraudulent purchases.


• Consider how you’ll pay – Credit cards generally are a safe option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered. Don’t send cash or use a money-wiring service because you’ll have no recourse if something goes wrong.


• Keep your password private – Many e-commerce web sites require shoppers to log-in before viewing or placing an order. When selecting a password, do not use commonly known information, such as your name, birthdate, or numbers from your driver's license or Social Security number. You should also refrain from reusing the same password for multiple sites.


• Choose security question answers that only you know – In addition to keeping your passwords private, also beware of security questions that help retrieve your password in the event that you forget it. Even the most trivial information - like your mother’s maiden name or first pet’s name - can be exploited by cybercriminals. Many of these details may seem unimportant, but they can serve as password recovery hints for email addresses or online banking accounts.


• Keep a paper trail – Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of any email you exchange with the seller. Read your credit card statements as soon as you get them to make sure there aren’t any unauthorized charges.


• Use a secure computer – When you’re away from home, do not save private information onto computers used by the public. If you're accessing a private account at the library or another public place, be sure to log out completely from your accounts, and do not save login information (like your username or password) on these computers.

If you think you are a victim of identity theft

• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports– Call one of the three credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Experian or Equifax. Report that you have been an identity theft victim and request a “fraud alert” and/or victim statement to be placed on your credit file. The company you call is required to contact the other two.


• Close the accounts that you believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently – Contact someone in the security or fraud department of each company, and follow up in writing.


• File a police report – Call your local police department to file a report. List any suspects that could have committed the crime.


• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission – You can file a complaint with the FTC using the online complaint form, or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline – 1-877-ID-THEFT.

Consumers can find more information about how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft and what to do if they do fall victim in a free guide from Capital One and national consumer advocacy and education group Consumer Action called ID Theft/Account Fraud Prevention and Clean Up – available at www.money-wise.org.

About Capital One

Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company whose subsidiaries, which include Capital One, N.A. and Capital One Bank (USA), N.A., had $115.8 billion in deposits and $212.0 billion in total managed assets outstanding as of December 31, 2009. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One, N.A. has approximately 1,000 branch locations primarily in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 100 index.







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Rush Card® Joins Green Dot® Network, Providing Additional Cash Reload Options for All Cardholders

Customers can load their cards at approximately 50,000 retailer locations nationwide using Green Dot MoneyPak®

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Dot, a leading provider of prepaid financial services and owner of the nation’s largest cash reload network, announced today that they have signed an agreement with UniRush, LLC. This agreement will allow RushCard customers to add cash to their prepaid cards using Green Dot’s MoneyPak®.



MoneyPak is available at approximately 50,000 retailer locations nationwide, including Walmart, CVS/pharmacy, Kmart, Kroger, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, and Walgreens. Customers simply purchase the MoneyPak with cash, and then transfer the money to their prepaid card.



“We're excited about working with the Green Dot Network to offer RushCard members another convenient and affordable way to add money to their cards," says Ram Palaniappan, General Manager for RushCard.



“We are pleased to welcome RushCard into the Green Dot Network,” said Mark Troughton, President, Cards and Network for Green Dot. “With the addition of RushCard, nearly all major prepaid programs now participate in the Green Dot Network, providing customers nationwide with the most convenient way to load their cards with cash. Green Dot and RushCard share a commitment to delivering tremendous value, innovation and customer satisfaction, and we look forward to a productive relationship.”



For more details, visit www.moneypak.com.



About Green Dot Corporation

Green Dot is a leading prepaid financial services company providing simple, low-cost and convenient money management solutions to a broad base of U.S. consumers. Green Dot also owns and operates the Green Dot Network, a leading prepaid card reloading network in the United States. Consumers can access the Green Dot Network and use it for a wide variety of transactions, including cash loading onto prepaid cards and adding funds to a PayPal account through MoneyPak®. Green Dot sells its cards and offers reload services nationwide at approximately 50,000 retail stores, including Walmart, CVS/pharmacy, Kmart, Kroger, Meijer, Radio Shack, Rite Aid, 7-Eleven, and Walgreens, which provide consumers convenient access to its products and services. Green Dot's products include Green Dot MasterCard® and Visa® branded prepaid debit cards and the Green Dot MoneyPak®. Green Dot is headquartered in the greater Los Angeles area. For more details, visit www.greendot.com and www.moneypak.com.

About UniRush LLC

Headquartered in Cincinnati, UniRush LLC was created to offer the over 48 million Americans without access to a traditional banking relationship an array of basic financial services via the Prepaid Visa RushCard. Benefits of the program include direct deposit, the ability to withdraw funds at over 850,000 ATMs globally, the ability to use the card wherever Visa debit cards are accepted and free 24/7 customer service. For more information about UniRush and RushCard visit www.rushcard.com.



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Discover Financial Services Announces First Quarter 2010 Earnings Release and Conference Call

RIVERWOODS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) plans to report its first quarter 2010 results after the market closes on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The earnings release will be available on Discover's corporate Web site at www.investorrelations.discoverfinancial.com.



A conference call to discuss the firm's results, outlook and related matters will be held at 5 p.m. Eastern time. The general public is invited to listen to the call by dialing 866-277-1182 (U.S. domestic) or 617-597-5359 (international) passcode 33082119, or via a live audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of the Web site. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on our Web site or by dialing 888-286-8010 (U.S. domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international), passcode 13388966, beginning approximately two hours after the event. The replay of the conference call will be available through April 16, 2010.

 

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com.

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