Monday, April 5, 2010

Smart Card Alliance 2010 Conference Details

Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference: Issuers and Users

to Address “Smart Cards in Action” in Mobile, Payment, Security Markets

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, April 5, 2010 – The Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference will address “Smart Cards in Action,” focusing on the issuers and users of smart card technology in payments, security, and mobile markets, the Alliance said today. The conference will be held May 17^th through the 20^th at the Camelback Marriott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year’s conference marks the return to an independent smart card industry conference rather than the co-event partnership of the past few years.

“No single chip technology, business application, or market implementation truly defines how smart cards are seen in 2010 and beyond. Chip technology and implementation choices for applications like payments, mobile commerce, identity management and security vary greatly,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “At this year’s Annual Conference, the Alliance is bringing together issuers and users from the various markets that use smart cards, so attendees can learn how these different markets use common chip features and functionality to address their differing transaction needs.”

Attendees of the Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference can look forward to learning about use cases and best practices, meeting with innovative vendors in an expanded exhibit hall, witnessing live demonstrations, networking with industry peers, and more. Day one of the conference, May 18^th, brings conference attendees together for keynote speakers and plenary sessions on hot topics like mobile payments, cybersecurity, banking and healthcare security, identity credentialing and fraud. At the conclusion of the first day, the Alliance will host a Gala Dinner and Awards Banquet where the winners of the 2010 Outstanding Smart Card Achievement Awards (OSCAs) and Smart Card Alliance Achievement Awards will be announced.

The remainder of the conference program will be divided into two tracks: the Identity & Security track, and the Payments & Mobile track. Each will feature individual presentations, panels, and roundtable discussions about how issuers and end users utilize the security and data management capabilities of chip technology to enable secure digital transactions – over the Internet, in retail stores, in transit centers, on mobile devices, and in government and commercial enterprises.

Pre-conference, on May 17^th, attendees can choose to attend the Mobile Payments Workshop, held by the Alliance in partnership with the NFC Forum. This full-day workshop will provide attendees with a detailed understanding of the technology and the emerging ecosystem for the use of NFC-enabled mobile devices for payments, loyalty and mobile marketing applications. Also pre-conference, members of the Alliance’s Leadership, Education and Advancement Program (LEAP), can register for the Certified Smart Card Industry Professional (CSCIP) full-day preparation course. The CSCIP exam will be held at the conclusion of the conference on May 20^th.

Further information about the conference, with links to event information and registration web site containing the complete agenda, list of exhibitors and registered attendees to date, and full registration details are available on the Smart Card Alliance Web site. Early registration discounts and the conference rate at Camelback Marriott Resort and Spa expire on April 19^th. Smart Card Alliance members receive special registration benefits and discounts. Sponsors of the Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference include Gemalto and First Data.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.

Smart Card Alliance 2010 Conference Details

Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference: Issuers and Users

to Address “Smart Cards in Action” in Mobile, Payment, Security Markets

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

Are you a Typer or a Swiper?

Internet Retailer published an article on alternative payments and I found the first line to be the most interesting....

By Thad Rueter - Internet Retailer

When most online shoppers get to the payment page of an e-commerce site they type in a credit or debit card number.

Editor's Note: ...and therein lies the problem (behind the continuing escalation of online payment fraud.)

When brick and mortar shoppers get to the POS they Swipe their card. They don't write their primary card number down on a piece of paper and leave it at the store's checkout counter. But that's exactly what you are doing when you type your card numbers into a browser.

The simple fact is that In order to properly secure the card holder data, instead of "typing" we should be "swiping." It's what we do in the brick and mortar world...and for good reason. That said, It is extremely important to note that it's not simply the act of "swiping" that makes the transaction secure.

As the eCommerce marketplace matures, (i.e. realizes that browsers are not safe) there has been a couple "swiping" devices introduced over the course of the last year. Square, SmartSwipe, etc. Yet, to this day, only one device in the world has been PCI 2.0 Certified. Why is that? It is because "encryption is the key" to securing cardholder data.

HomeATM understood the importance of strong encryption long ago which is why utilize 3DES encryption for the Track 2 data. (We encrypt the data at the magnetic head of the card reader so it is NEVER in the clear.)

Because our secure hardware solution incorporates a PIN Entry device, it enables us to further protect the online financial transaction with DUKPT encryption for the PIN. (Derived Unique Key Per Transaction)

So if you are curious as to why we are PCI certified and our competitors are not, think encryption. Neither Square, nor SmartSwipe incorporates a PIN Entry Device, so two factor authentication and DUKPT encryption does not, cannot, come into play. It is important to note that neither one 3DES encrypts the Track 2 data.

So, ask yourself "two questions" the next time you are asked to "type" your card number into a box on a checkout page of a website.

1. Does it make logical sense for me to be typing my card number into a box?

2. What hardware device best protects my sensitive data.

You'll have to answer the first question yourself, (see related articles below if you are stumped) but the answer to the second question is clearly HomeATM's PCI 2.0 PED certified technology. Contact me to learn more about how our technology can eliminate phishing and chargebacks and render malware useless.

Editor's Note: We also have an EMV ready Chip and PIN reader hardware device which will allow online banking authentication, online payment, online bill pay and real-time instant P2P money transfers.

Are you a Typer or a Swiper?

GroupOn Launches in Salt Lake City

April 05, 2010 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Groupon Launches in Salt Lake City

Rock Climbing Gym, Hair Salon, Massage Studio and Upscale Restaurant Among First Features on Popular Shopping Website

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Groupon (http://www.groupon.com), a shopping website that offers a daily deal on the best local goods, services and cultural events, launched in Salt Lake City on April 5, 2010.

“Salt Lake City is the kind of market where Groupon can make a real difference for customers and businesses”

“Salt Lake City is the kind of market where Groupon can make a real difference for customers and businesses,” said Groupon founder Andrew Mason. “With so many industries well-represented in Salt Lake City, we’re excited to offer local residents unbelievable deals while generating new customers for local merchants.”

Using the principles of collective buying, Groupon negotiates unprecedented deals with top businesses. Groupon subscribers receive free daily emails alerting them to the deal. These deals are only activated if a minimum number of people agree to buy, encouraging subscribers to share the promotion with family and friends via social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. By guaranteeing a large number of new customers, Groupon creates a win-win for local merchants. So far, this innovative approach to e-commerce has generated millions in revenue for local businesses while saving more than three million subscribers more than $140 million.

“Groupon brings buyers and sellers together in a fun and collaborative way,” said Mason. “We offer the consumer a great deal they can’t get anywhere else and deliver the sales directly to the merchant.”

During its first week in Salt Lake City, Groupon’s featured deals will include a rock climbing gym, hair salon, massage studio and upscale restaurant. Salt Lake City is Groupon’s forty-fourth city.

About Groupon

Groupon, launched in November 2008 in Chicago, features a daily deal on the best stuff to do, eat, see, and buy in major cities across the U.S., with plans to be in 100 cities by the end of 2010. Groupon uses collective buying power to offer unbeatable prices and provide a win-win for businesses and consumers. Groupon is a project of The Point (http://www.thepoint.com), an online community launched in 2007 for organizing group action. For more information, visit http://www.groupon.com.

To get Groupon’s daily free email for the best in your city, subscribe at http://www.groupon.com.

To learn how to become a featured business on Groupon, visit http://www.grouponworks.com.

Contacts

Groupon

Julie Anne Mossler, 312-242-2033

Julie@groupon.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100405005572/en/Groupon-Launches-Salt-Lake-City

GroupOn Launches in Salt Lake City

April 05, 2010 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Groupon Launches in Salt Lake City

Rock Climbing Gym, Hair Salon, Massage Studio and Upscale Restaurant Among First Features on Popular Shopping Website

“Salt Lake City is the kind of market where Groupon can make a real difference for customers and businesses”

About Groupon

To get Groupon’s daily free email for the best in your city, subscribe at http://www.groupon.com.

To learn how to become a featured business on Groupon, visit http://www.grouponworks.com.

Contacts

Groupon

Julie Anne Mossler, 312-242-2033

Julie@groupon.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100405005572/en/Groupon-Launches-Salt-Lake-City

FrontStream Payments Announces New Executive Vice President of Operations

FrontStream Payments, Inc., today announced that Jeffry A. Beene has joined the company’s senior management team as Executive Vice President of Operations.

Lacey, WA (PRWEB) April 4, 2010 -- Mr. Beene's appointment comes as FrontStream continues to expand within the financial services sector, specializing in innovative payment processing solutions.

Mr. Beene is joining FrontStream Payments from Pipeline Data Inc. PPDA.PK, where he served as Senior Vice President since April 2009. Prior to that, he was President of Pipeline Data Processing, Inc. from April 2006 to April 2009, and held the position of Chief Compliance Officer / Executive Vice President from December 2004 to April 2006.

“Jeff brings an invaluable skill set which will allow him to effectively lead all functions of FrontStream’s day-to-day operations. This will enable us to build the infrastructure to grow efficiently and provide excellent support to our partners,” said Emmet Seibels, CEO. “He has held several leadership positions throughout his career and his extensive industry knowledge will be a great asset to our company. We are very excited to have him on board.”

“One thing I have learned about FrontStream is that it’s the people who make FrontStream Payments great,” Jeffry (Jeff) Beene said. “I am proud to be part of a highly-innovative company that contributes so much to the success of their merchant clients and strategic partners. In my new role, I look forward to working with our management teams and dedicated staff as we continue to provide customers with products that offer a rich user experience on the front end, while implementing, on the back end, a secure, flexible network of services to support their business growth.”

Mr. Beene is affiliated with several professional organizations and brings almost two decades of risk, security, and operational management experience to FrontStream Payments. He is a founding member of the “Merchant Acquirer Committee”, MAC and is actively involved with the Electronic Transaction Association (ETA). He has served on the ETA’s Risk & Fraud Management, as its vice-chairman, Government Relations, Industry Relations and New Member committees. He has also served as an Executive Advisory Board member for the “International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators”, IAFCI.

About FrontStream Payments:

FrontStream Payments is a leading provider of payments products and services to small and medium-sized businesses and independent credit card sales organizations. Offerings include turnkey solutions that enable merchants to increase revenues through the acceptance of credit and debit cards. The company is headquartered in Brentwood, TN and has offices in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Dallas, TX. and Olympia, WA. To learn more about the company please visit frontstreampayments.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Chase Perry / 615-377-3799 ext 103

-- Vice President of Corporate Development

Jeffry A. Beene / 615-690-3785

-- Executive Vice President of Operations

FrontStream Payments Announces New Executive Vice President of Operations

FrontStream Payments, Inc., today announced that Jeffry A. Beene has joined the company’s senior management team as Executive Vice President of Operations.

RentPayment Achieves SAS 70 Type II Certification

RentPayment, a leading provider of electronic rent payment services, announced today that it has completed its SAS 70 Type II annual audit. This certification establishes the superior level of security and commitment RentPayment delivers to its customers, ensuring the highest quality of service.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 5, 2010 -- RentPayment, a subsidiary of Yapstone, Inc. and a leading provider of electronic rent payment services, announced today that it has completed its SAS 70 (Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70: Service Organizations) Type II annual audit. This certification establishes the superior level of security and commitment RentPayment delivers to its customers, ensuring the highest quality of service.

SAS 70 is an internationally recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The successful SAS 70 audit represents that RentPayment has developed control objectives for the significant areas of internal control that support the company’s payment processing and payment gateway services. The control objectives in the 2010 report addressed the following areas:

Control Operations

Information Security

Application Change Control

Data Communications

Client Setup & Maintenance

Payment Processing & Gateways

"The vast amount of transactions RentPayment processes mandates a rigorous system of procedures and controls to uphold the premium level of security and service we offer to our customers," said Matt Golis, CEO of RentPayment.

SAS 70 Solutions, a licensed CPA firm, performed the audit and testing of RentPayment's internal controls including Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Information/Communication and Monitoring, all of which RentPayment passed impressively.

About RentPayment

RentPayment is the largest electronic payment processor in the multifamily housing industry, serving 30 of the Top 50 NMHC members as well as thousands of property management companies across all 50 states. RentPayment provides best-of-breed credit and debit card processing, ACH and check scanning services through their integrated payment platform. Key differentiators of the RentPayment solution include the RentByText payment option, exceptional customer service and PCI compliance certification. Founded in 1999, San Francisco-based RentPayment processes billions of dollars in annual transaction volume and currently operates five offices in the United States.

RentPayment

505 Sansome Street, 8th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

866-289-5977 x293

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RentPayment Achieves SAS 70 Type II Certification

RentPayment

505 Sansome Street, 8th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

866-289-5977 x293

###

YesPay Launches New Cloud Computing Architecture in a Managed Card Payment Service Context

Cloud computing refers to accessing dynamically scalable and often virtualized IT resources as a service over the Internet. YESpay has successfully managed to replicate the cloud computing architecture for its four new global card payments transaction processing data centers located in London (UK), Heathrow (UK), Toronto (Canada) and San Francisco (USA).

London, UK (PRWeb UK/PRWEB ) April 5, 2010 -- Cloud computing refers to accessing dynamically scalable and often virtualized IT resources as a service over the Internet. YESpay has successfully managed to replicate the cloud computing architecture for its four new global card payments transaction processing data centers located in London (UK), Heathrow (UK), Toronto (Canada) and San Francisco (USA).

We are probably the world’s first card payment service to develop and deploy a cloud computing architecture as defined by industry experts such as Sun Microsystems,” said Dr. Chandra Patni, CEO and CTO of YESpay group of companies

YESpay provides its integrated card transaction processing service to merchants throughout Europe and North America (ISA and Canada). YESpay’s current 4 data centers, branded as EMBOSS, work on the cloud computing architecture and deliver a resilient payment service to its customers through a “Software as a Service model” (SaaS) model. In a SaaS model, a single application is accessed by thousands of customers through the Internet. The main application is hosted centrally in multiple EMBOSS data centers and a basic software (EasyV Terminal) is installed at the customers end to facilitate communication with the host. In this type of multitenant architecture, customers are just thin clients with no requirements for servers or software licenses. The customers of such a service model are generally billed on a utility (pay as you use) or subscription basis.

The benefits deriving from YESpay’s SaaS model range from infinite scalability to reduced infrastructure investment and no software licensing charges. The main benefits of replicating cloud computing architecture for YESpay’s customers are categorized below:

Data Security

Since YESpay is responsible for storing the cardholder data on behalf of its clients, it ensures high levels of security, certified to PCI DSS level 1 at all its data centers throughout Europe and North America.

Commercial Benefits

With YESpay’s SaaS model, there is no capital investment required for the merchant, just operational monthly service costs. Customers don’t need their own operational staff and physical equipment (such as servers, storage, networks, and virtualization technologies) and can access YESpay’s payment solution over the internet.

Service Availability

Cloud computing load sharing gives:

- 99.99% availability (practically 100%) even during maintenance, upgrades, etc

- Multiple load sharing data centers provide auto Disaster Recovery (DR) capability

Hence, YESpay is utilizing the cloud computing revolution to impart a fully resilient and “ready for future” payment services to its customers helping them adapt and excel in the ever changing card payment market scenario.

About YESpay International Ltd:

YESpay is a global payments services company providing highly secure and scalable EMV Chip & PIN, contactless and magnetic credit / debit card, ecommerce and gift card payment processing services to independent and multi-chain merchants. It provides outsourced management payment services anywhere in the world to traditional high street stores, hospitality, leisure, fuel, mail order and web environments.

Through EMBOSS™, its Gateway to Managed Payment Services, merchants can quickly accept integrated card payments within their EPOS tills, kiosks, and hospitality payment systems as well as enhance their websites for on-line payments with minimal capital investment and low on-going services costs. EMBOSS is an on-line IP-based payment processing service that has been preaccredited (generically) by major card Acquirers in Europe and North America (including Chase Paymentech, First Data Merchant Service (FDMS), Barclaycard Business, HSBC, HBOS, Lloyds Cardnet, Streamline, Ulster Bank, Elavon, PBS, Amex and Diners). In addition, YESpay’s EMBOSS service is fully end to end certified to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) Level 1 as mandated by Visa and MasterCard.

YESpay’s EasyV-Suite of card payment products are innovative and cost-effective solutions for EPOS, Kiosk, Hospitality, Mobile and Internet Websites that combine with the YESpay hosted EMBOSS payment service to enable their merchants to perform credit or debit card payments in both card-present and card-not-present environments.

www.yes-pay.com.

About YESpay International Ltd Offices:

133 Richmond Street West, Suite 406, Toronto, ONTARIO, M5H2L3 CANADA

UK Headquarters: Checknet House, 153 East Barnet Road, Barnet, EN48QZ, UK

From USA/Canada Tel: +1 – 416 – 214 - 6012

From UK/Europe Tel. Direct: +44 – 203 – 006 - 3790

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See the original story at: http://uk.prweb.com/releases/YesPay/cloud_computing/prweb3812774.htm

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