Take the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance Survey

Take the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance Survey ATMmarketplace.com is conducting a survey about the future of mobile banking. The results of this survey will be included in the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance report, coming in the summer of 2010. This brief survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thanks in advance for your participation!

Take the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance Survey

Take the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance Survey ATMmarketplace.com is conducting a survey about the future of mobile banking. The results of this survey will be included in the Future Trends and the State of Mobile Finance report, coming in the summer of 2010. This brief survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thanks in advance for your participation!

Mobile Payments Market to Quadruple by 2014 says Juniper Research

Our Mobile Swipe Device Enables Real Time P2P Payments

Mobile Payments Market to Quadruple by 2014, Reaching $630bn in Value, Although Still Only Accounting for Around 5% of Ecommerce Retail Sales



HAMPSHIRE, UK--(Marketwire - May 4, 2010) -  A new study from Juniper Research has found that the value of mobile payments for digital and physical goods, money transfers and NFC (Near Field Communications) transactions will reach almost $630bn by 2014, up from $170bn this year, representing the gross value of all purchases or the value of money being transferred.



The mobile payments report revealed that growth across all market segments was being driven by the wide adoption of Smartphones and the increased use of apps stores. In addition SMS ticketing schemes such as those offered by OBB Austrian Railways and Skane Traffic in Sweden were also important developments. Shopping by mobile at stores such as Amazon Mobile is also tipped for significant expansion over the next five years.



In developing markets SMS driven money transfer services are the main driver, increasing at a rate of 30% per annum.

Report author Howard Wilcox explained: "Our analysis showed that whilst the digital goods segment will account for nearly half of the market in 2010, the emerging segments such as physical goods payments, NFC and money transfers will impact the market rapidly. By 2014 for example we forecast that physical goods mobile payments market will be worth $100bn."

Key messages from the report include:

• The top 3 regions for mobile payments (Far East & China, W. Europe and N. America) will represent nearly 70% of the global mobile payment gross transaction value by 2014.


• Vendors, retailers, merchants, content providers, mobile operators and banks are all actively establishing new services and schemes.


• However, in some areas such as NFC for example, greater collaboration is required to establish a widely accepted business model that translates easily into tangible services.

The study provides the "big picture" view of mobile payments, providing forecasts of the main market segments of digital and physical goods purchases, contactless NFC and national and international money transfers and remittances, providing regional forecasts of gross transaction values.

Whitepaper and further details of the study, "Mobile Payments Markets: Strategies & Forecasts 2010-2014" can be freely downloaded from www.juniperresearch.com. Alternatively please contact John Levett at john.levett@juniperresearch.com, telephone +44(0)1256 830002.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

Contact:

John Levettjohn.levett@juniperresearch.com

+44(0)1256 830002

Click here to see all recent news from this company

Mobile Payments Market to Quadruple by 2014 says Juniper Research

Our Mobile Swipe Device Enables Real Time P2P Payments

Mobile Payments Market to Quadruple by 2014, Reaching $630bn in Value, Although Still Only Accounting for Around 5% of Ecommerce Retail Sales



HAMPSHIRE, UK--(Marketwire - May 4, 2010) -  A new study from Juniper Research has found that the value of mobile payments for digital and physical goods, money transfers and NFC (Near Field Communications) transactions will reach almost $630bn by 2014, up from $170bn this year, representing the gross value of all purchases or the value of money being transferred.



The mobile payments report revealed that growth across all market segments was being driven by the wide adoption of Smartphones and the increased use of apps stores. In addition SMS ticketing schemes such as those offered by OBB Austrian Railways and Skane Traffic in Sweden were also important developments. Shopping by mobile at stores such as Amazon Mobile is also tipped for significant expansion over the next five years.



In developing markets SMS driven money transfer services are the main driver, increasing at a rate of 30% per annum.

Report author Howard Wilcox explained: "Our analysis showed that whilst the digital goods segment will account for nearly half of the market in 2010, the emerging segments such as physical goods payments, NFC and money transfers will impact the market rapidly. By 2014 for example we forecast that physical goods mobile payments market will be worth $100bn."

Key messages from the report include:

• The top 3 regions for mobile payments (Far East & China, W. Europe and N. America) will represent nearly 70% of the global mobile payment gross transaction value by 2014.


• Vendors, retailers, merchants, content providers, mobile operators and banks are all actively establishing new services and schemes.


• However, in some areas such as NFC for example, greater collaboration is required to establish a widely accepted business model that translates easily into tangible services.

The study provides the "big picture" view of mobile payments, providing forecasts of the main market segments of digital and physical goods purchases, contactless NFC and national and international money transfers and remittances, providing regional forecasts of gross transaction values.

Whitepaper and further details of the study, "Mobile Payments Markets: Strategies & Forecasts 2010-2014" can be freely downloaded from www.juniperresearch.com. Alternatively please contact John Levett at john.levett@juniperresearch.com, telephone +44(0)1256 830002.

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

Contact:

John Levettjohn.levett@juniperresearch.com

+44(0)1256 830002

Click here to see all recent news from this company

ETA and ProPay to Conduct Webinar on End-to-End Payment Security

Washington, May 4, 2010 --



ETA and ProPay present:

End-to-End Payment Security...What does it really mean?

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Time: 1:00pm EDT



To register, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/693560178.



The Electronic Transactions Association and ProPay invite you to attend a complimentary interactive webinar titled, End-to-End Payment Security…What Does it Really Mean?



End-to-End payment security is a concept that is getting a great deal of buzz in the marketplace, yet it is a phrase that is still largely undefined. As commerce becomes more fluid, so do the ways in which payment data can be stolen. This necessitates greater vigilance in protecting the data—End-to-End.



ProPay, ETA’s 2010 ISO of the Year, will present and discuss what End-to-End payment security really means and the best practices for securing payments—End-to-End.



Attendees will:

• Gain awareness about End-to-End payment security best practices


• Learn how the right End-to-End payment security solution can help to protect their company, brand and reputation


• Understand the risks associated with storing sensitive payment data and how removing the data will remove risks


• Learn how the right End-to-End payment security solution may reduce their PCI compliance burden

Speakers:

• Chris Mark, Executive Vice President, Data Security & Compliance, ProPay


• Mark Johnson, Chief Information Officer, ProPay

The presentation portion of the webinar will last approximately 45 minutes, with approximately 15 minutes dedicated for audience Q&A after the presentations. We look forward to having you join us. < em>

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.



Source: Company press release.

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• ProPay''s Data Security Summit 2010 - PIN Debit News Blog Readers, Take $50 Off Registration (pindebit.blogspot.com)

ETA and ProPay to Conduct Webinar on End-to-End Payment Security

Washington, May 4, 2010 --



ETA and ProPay present:

End-to-End Payment Security...What does it really mean?

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Time: 1:00pm EDT



To register, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/693560178.



The Electronic Transactions Association and ProPay invite you to attend a complimentary interactive webinar titled, End-to-End Payment Security…What Does it Really Mean?



End-to-End payment security is a concept that is getting a great deal of buzz in the marketplace, yet it is a phrase that is still largely undefined. As commerce becomes more fluid, so do the ways in which payment data can be stolen. This necessitates greater vigilance in protecting the data—End-to-End.



ProPay, ETA’s 2010 ISO of the Year, will present and discuss what End-to-End payment security really means and the best practices for securing payments—End-to-End.



Attendees will:

• Gain awareness about End-to-End payment security best practices


• Learn how the right End-to-End payment security solution can help to protect their company, brand and reputation


• Understand the risks associated with storing sensitive payment data and how removing the data will remove risks


• Learn how the right End-to-End payment security solution may reduce their PCI compliance burden

Speakers:

• Chris Mark, Executive Vice President, Data Security & Compliance, ProPay


• Mark Johnson, Chief Information Officer, ProPay

The presentation portion of the webinar will last approximately 45 minutes, with approximately 15 minutes dedicated for audience Q&A after the presentations. We look forward to having you join us. < em>

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.



Source: Company press release.

Related articles by Zemanta

• ProPay''s Data Security Summit 2010 - PIN Debit News Blog Readers, Take $50 Off Registration (pindebit.blogspot.com)

TSYS, Planet Payment Extend Multi-Currency Processing Contract

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planet Payment^® and TSYS^® announced today a multi-year extension of their multi-currency processing agreement. Under the agreement, TSYS Acquiring Solutions will continue to offer Planet Payment’s Dynamic Currency Conversion and Multi-Currency Pricing solutions to its customers.

“Our multi-currency products, powered by Planet Payment, provide Acquirers and ISOs with innovative solutions that drive additional margin on existing transactions”

“Our multi-currency products, powered by Planet Payment, provide Acquirers and ISOs with innovative solutions that drive additional margin on existing transactions,” said Mark Pyke, president of TSYS Acquiring Solutions. “The products also provide merchants with powerful marketing and customer service tools to attract and close more sales from their international clientele.”

With Dynamic Currency Conversion, international MasterCard and Visa card customers can pay in their home currency at the point of sale — providing greater convenience and clarity, while eliminating the guesswork associated with international payments.

“Our solutions serve as competitive differentiators that help TSYS clients sign new clients and deepen relationships with their existing accounts,” said Philip Beck, chairman and chief executive officer of Planet Payment. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with TSYS to enable U.S. merchants to improve profitability and sales in this challenging economic climate and drive new sales from international customers.”

TSYS e-commerce and mail order/telephone order merchants reach international markets more effectively with Multi-Currency Pricing by localizing the product and featuring pricing and pay in local currencies. Multi-Currency Pricing is available through several certified payment gateways, including Planet Payment’s iPAY® Gateway.

About TSYS

TSYS (NYSE: TSS) is one of the world’s largest companies for outsourced payment services, offering a broad range of issuer- and acquirer-processing technologies that support consumer-finance, credit, debit, healthcare, loyalty and prepaid services for financial institutions and retail companies in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For more information contactnews@tsys.com or log on to www.tsys.com. TSYS routinely posts all important information on its website.

About Planet Payment

Planet Payment’s Common Shares trade in the UK on AIM under the symbols PPT for unrestricted Common Shares and PPTR for Reg S Common Shares and in the USA on the OTCQX under the symbol PLPM.

Planet Payment enables processors, acquiring banks and their merchants in more than 15 countries to accept, process and reconcile credit card transactions in multiple currencies, allowing cardholders to view prices and settle transactions in their native currency. The Pay in Your Currency™ service is Planet Payment’s suite of multi-currency processing solutions, which includes a multi-currency pricing e-commerce service and a Dynamic Currency Conversion service. Planet Payment’s BuyVoice™, a mobile payment and commerce solution, allows merchants to accept payments and sell product to customers using any mobile or landline phone. With the iPAY™ Gateway, Planet Payment also offers comprehensive Internet processing solutions for credit card and electronic check payments. Planet Payment can support any of the more than 150 currencies currently supported by Visa and MasterCard.

Planet Payment is headquartered in New York and has offices in Atlanta, Beijing, Bermuda, New Castle Delaware, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.

TSYS, Planet Payment Extend Multi-Currency Processing Contract

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planet Payment^® and TSYS^® announced today a multi-year extension of their multi-currency processing agreement. Under the agreement, TSYS Acquiring Solutions will continue to offer Planet Payment’s Dynamic Currency Conversion and Multi-Currency Pricing solutions to its customers.

“Our multi-currency products, powered by Planet Payment, provide Acquirers and ISOs with innovative solutions that drive additional margin on existing transactions”

“Our multi-currency products, powered by Planet Payment, provide Acquirers and ISOs with innovative solutions that drive additional margin on existing transactions,” said Mark Pyke, president of TSYS Acquiring Solutions. “The products also provide merchants with powerful marketing and customer service tools to attract and close more sales from their international clientele.”

With Dynamic Currency Conversion, international MasterCard and Visa card customers can pay in their home currency at the point of sale — providing greater convenience and clarity, while eliminating the guesswork associated with international payments.

“Our solutions serve as competitive differentiators that help TSYS clients sign new clients and deepen relationships with their existing accounts,” said Philip Beck, chairman and chief executive officer of Planet Payment. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with TSYS to enable U.S. merchants to improve profitability and sales in this challenging economic climate and drive new sales from international customers.”

TSYS e-commerce and mail order/telephone order merchants reach international markets more effectively with Multi-Currency Pricing by localizing the product and featuring pricing and pay in local currencies. Multi-Currency Pricing is available through several certified payment gateways, including Planet Payment’s iPAY® Gateway.

About TSYS

TSYS (NYSE: TSS) is one of the world’s largest companies for outsourced payment services, offering a broad range of issuer- and acquirer-processing technologies that support consumer-finance, credit, debit, healthcare, loyalty and prepaid services for financial institutions and retail companies in the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions. For more information contactnews@tsys.com or log on to www.tsys.com. TSYS routinely posts all important information on its website.

About Planet Payment

Planet Payment’s Common Shares trade in the UK on AIM under the symbols PPT for unrestricted Common Shares and PPTR for Reg S Common Shares and in the USA on the OTCQX under the symbol PLPM.

Planet Payment enables processors, acquiring banks and their merchants in more than 15 countries to accept, process and reconcile credit card transactions in multiple currencies, allowing cardholders to view prices and settle transactions in their native currency. The Pay in Your Currency™ service is Planet Payment’s suite of multi-currency processing solutions, which includes a multi-currency pricing e-commerce service and a Dynamic Currency Conversion service. Planet Payment’s BuyVoice™, a mobile payment and commerce solution, allows merchants to accept payments and sell product to customers using any mobile or landline phone. With the iPAY™ Gateway, Planet Payment also offers comprehensive Internet processing solutions for credit card and electronic check payments. Planet Payment can support any of the more than 150 currencies currently supported by Visa and MasterCard.

Planet Payment is headquartered in New York and has offices in Atlanta, Beijing, Bermuda, New Castle Delaware, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.

MasterCard Incorporated Reports First-Quarter 2010 Financial Results

First-quarter net income of $455 million, or $3.46 per diluted share

• First-quarter net revenue increase of 13.1%, to $1.3 billion


• First-quarter gross dollar volume up 8.3% and purchase volume up 8.7%

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) today announced financial results for the first quarter 2010. The company reported net income of $455 million, or $3.46 per diluted share.

“We are starting the year with strength across several of our business drivers, including healthy cross-border volumes, which contributed to our solid first quarter results”

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2010 was $1.3 billion, a 13.1% increase versus the same period in 2009. On a constant currency basis, net revenue increased 10.2% compared to the same period in 2009. The higher net revenue this quarter benefited from:

• An increase in cross border volumes of 10.9%;


• Growth in MasterCard’s gross dollar volume, which increased 8.3% on a local currency basis, to $631 billion;


• An increase in processed transactions of 4.6%; and


• Pricing changes of approximately 5 percentage points.

Worldwide purchase volume during the quarter was up 8.7% on a local currency basis versus the first quarter of 2009, to $473 billion. The number of processed transactions increased 4.6% compared to the same period in 2009, to 5.4 billion. As of March 31, 2010, the company’s financial-institution customers had issued 1.6 billion MasterCard and Maestro-branded cards.

“We are starting the year with strength across several of our business drivers, including healthy cross-border volumes, which contributed to our solid first quarter results,” said Robert W. Selander, MasterCard chief executive officer. “We also made a number of announcements that position MasterCard well for continued success, including signing a long-term agreement for HSBC’s global mass affluent Premier credit business, and the ongoing adoption of MasterCard inControl with Fifth Third, J.P. Morgan and First National Bank of Omaha.”

MasterCard president and chief operating officer, Ajay Banga, further remarked, “We’re making important investments in innovation, like MasterCard Marketplace, our eCommerce shopping portal, and the launch of MasterCard Labs, a critical component of our global research and development efforts.” Banga stated, “We are committed to play a significant role in the evolution of payments to better meet the needs of consumers, merchants, businesses and governments around the world, and look forward to bringing even more developments to the market.”



Continue Reading

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MasterCard Incorporated Reports First-Quarter 2010 Financial Results

First-quarter net income of $455 million, or $3.46 per diluted share

• First-quarter net revenue increase of 13.1%, to $1.3 billion


• First-quarter gross dollar volume up 8.3% and purchase volume up 8.7%

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) today announced financial results for the first quarter 2010. The company reported net income of $455 million, or $3.46 per diluted share.

“We are starting the year with strength across several of our business drivers, including healthy cross-border volumes, which contributed to our solid first quarter results”

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2010 was $1.3 billion, a 13.1% increase versus the same period in 2009. On a constant currency basis, net revenue increased 10.2% compared to the same period in 2009. The higher net revenue this quarter benefited from:

• An increase in cross border volumes of 10.9%;


• Growth in MasterCard’s gross dollar volume, which increased 8.3% on a local currency basis, to $631 billion;


• An increase in processed transactions of 4.6%; and


• Pricing changes of approximately 5 percentage points.

Worldwide purchase volume during the quarter was up 8.7% on a local currency basis versus the first quarter of 2009, to $473 billion. The number of processed transactions increased 4.6% compared to the same period in 2009, to 5.4 billion. As of March 31, 2010, the company’s financial-institution customers had issued 1.6 billion MasterCard and Maestro-branded cards.

“We are starting the year with strength across several of our business drivers, including healthy cross-border volumes, which contributed to our solid first quarter results,” said Robert W. Selander, MasterCard chief executive officer. “We also made a number of announcements that position MasterCard well for continued success, including signing a long-term agreement for HSBC’s global mass affluent Premier credit business, and the ongoing adoption of MasterCard inControl with Fifth Third, J.P. Morgan and First National Bank of Omaha.”

MasterCard president and chief operating officer, Ajay Banga, further remarked, “We’re making important investments in innovation, like MasterCard Marketplace, our eCommerce shopping portal, and the launch of MasterCard Labs, a critical component of our global research and development efforts.” Banga stated, “We are committed to play a significant role in the evolution of payments to better meet the needs of consumers, merchants, businesses and governments around the world, and look forward to bringing even more developments to the market.”



Continue Reading

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• Ajay Banga Named Mastercard's New CEO (huffingtonpost.com)


• Visa buys CyberSource, steps further into online commerce (financialpost.com)

MSI Ranked 29 Nationally among the Top US Acquirers

NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MSI Merchant Services, Inc., a premier national merchant acquirer, proudly announces its new Nilson Report Ranking of 29 among Top US Acquirers for the year 2009. MSI elevated its 2008 presence of 31 to 29 in the 2009 listing of the top 97 national acquirers. The ranking was based upon the volume of general purpose transactions, generated by PIN-and signature-based debit cards and by the credit cards of Visa, MasterCard, American express, Discover, Diners, and JCB. MSI clearly out performed two of its fiercest competitors in the payment card industry.

“Superior sales support along with generous residual programs and customized interchange programs for our sales representatives can only guarantee substantial growth”

This elevation in position came as no surprise to MSI. When other national processors were closing their doors in 2009, MSI announced a 16% increase in total bankcard processing, with an 18% increase in both Visa/MasterCard transactions. Despite the sluggish national retail market, MSI increased its active merchant outlets by 22.94% in 2009, from 78,254 merchants in 2008 to 96, 213 merchants in 2009. More sales representatives were attracted to the security of MSI in 2009, and MSI paid a record breaking 37 million dollars in residuals to its ISO’s. With a twenty year history of solid performance and an established BIN relationship with the First National Bank of Omaha, MSI’s continued success is a result of its continued commitment to its independent sales offices.

MSI has endured, evolved and expanded as an institution for the last twenty years. Yet, it has always remained faithful to its founding principles of creating and maintaining successful long term relationships. MSI always cognizant of the fact its sales representatives are its driving force, continually tailors it business to meet their needs. It is this strategy coupled with a dedicated, integrated team possessing an astute understanding of its market that has continually defined MSI as a leading merchant acquirer in the United States.

“Superior sales support along with generous residual programs and customized interchange programs for our sales representatives can only guarantee substantial growth,” according to Mario Parisi, an owner and Director of Operations for MSI. “My partner, George Mayo and I, always try to anticipate and then meet the needs of our independent entrepreneurs. We aim to keep our ISO’s on the leading edge of transaction technology and industry trends, affording them every available opportunity to succeed. ”

MSI Merchant Services, Inc. founded in 1989 with corporate offices in New Providence, NJ provides a full spectrum of merchant services to retail and wholesale businesses, professional services, mail order merchants, and e-commerce businesses. Merchant services programs include credit and debit card processing, mobile iPhone processing, gift and loyalty cards, Check Guarantee, and its own private gateway. MSI now deploys its payment products, services, and acceptance strategies close to 100,000 merchants.

For company and product information visit MSI:

ISO’s @ www.1800bankcard.com

Merchants@ www.merchantservices.com

Contacts

MSI Merchant Services, Inc.

George Mayo, 1-800-351-2591

george@msihq.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100503006728/en/MSI-Ranked-29-Nationally-Top-Acquirers

MSI Ranked 29 Nationally among the Top US Acquirers

NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MSI Merchant Services, Inc., a premier national merchant acquirer, proudly announces its new Nilson Report Ranking of 29 among Top US Acquirers for the year 2009. MSI elevated its 2008 presence of 31 to 29 in the 2009 listing of the top 97 national acquirers. The ranking was based upon the volume of general purpose transactions, generated by PIN-and signature-based debit cards and by the credit cards of Visa, MasterCard, American express, Discover, Diners, and JCB. MSI clearly out performed two of its fiercest competitors in the payment card industry.

“Superior sales support along with generous residual programs and customized interchange programs for our sales representatives can only guarantee substantial growth”

This elevation in position came as no surprise to MSI. When other national processors were closing their doors in 2009, MSI announced a 16% increase in total bankcard processing, with an 18% increase in both Visa/MasterCard transactions. Despite the sluggish national retail market, MSI increased its active merchant outlets by 22.94% in 2009, from 78,254 merchants in 2008 to 96, 213 merchants in 2009. More sales representatives were attracted to the security of MSI in 2009, and MSI paid a record breaking 37 million dollars in residuals to its ISO’s. With a twenty year history of solid performance and an established BIN relationship with the First National Bank of Omaha, MSI’s continued success is a result of its continued commitment to its independent sales offices.

MSI has endured, evolved and expanded as an institution for the last twenty years. Yet, it has always remained faithful to its founding principles of creating and maintaining successful long term relationships. MSI always cognizant of the fact its sales representatives are its driving force, continually tailors it business to meet their needs. It is this strategy coupled with a dedicated, integrated team possessing an astute understanding of its market that has continually defined MSI as a leading merchant acquirer in the United States.

“Superior sales support along with generous residual programs and customized interchange programs for our sales representatives can only guarantee substantial growth,” according to Mario Parisi, an owner and Director of Operations for MSI. “My partner, George Mayo and I, always try to anticipate and then meet the needs of our independent entrepreneurs. We aim to keep our ISO’s on the leading edge of transaction technology and industry trends, affording them every available opportunity to succeed. ”

MSI Merchant Services, Inc. founded in 1989 with corporate offices in New Providence, NJ provides a full spectrum of merchant services to retail and wholesale businesses, professional services, mail order merchants, and e-commerce businesses. Merchant services programs include credit and debit card processing, mobile iPhone processing, gift and loyalty cards, Check Guarantee, and its own private gateway. MSI now deploys its payment products, services, and acceptance strategies close to 100,000 merchants.

For company and product information visit MSI:

ISO’s @ www.1800bankcard.com

Merchants@ www.merchantservices.com

Contacts

MSI Merchant Services, Inc.

George Mayo, 1-800-351-2591

george@msihq.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100503006728/en/MSI-Ranked-29-Nationally-Top-Acquirers

Visa Signature Named Official Payment Card of the James Beard Foundation

NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The James Beard Foundation and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today announced a partnership that makes Visa Signature the preferred payment method for all of the culinary organization’s events and provides Visa Signature cardholders access to exclusive epicurean experiences featuring some of the world’s most renown chefs. The relationship brings the experience of dining at the famous the James Beard House to a national level, showcasing the excellence of the Foundation through the 2010 Celebrity Chef Tour program and encompasses the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards as well as brand alignment on all sales, promotions and advertising of Visa offers and payment services.

“This partnership provides Visa Signature cardholders with access to the chefs, vintners and restaurateurs that are leading their fields in quality, creativity and innovation.”

“Visa Signature cardholders have a passion for the very best in food and wine,” Stacey Pinkerd, Head of Global Consumer Products Strategy, Visa Inc. “This partnership provides Visa Signature cardholders with access to the chefs, vintners and restaurateurs that are leading their fields in quality, creativity and innovation.”

Visa Signature cardholders will receive a number of benefits through this partnership, including exclusive Visa Signature presale and preferred pricing on tickets to Celebrity Chef Tour dinners benefiting the James Beard Foundation. The 2010 Celebrity Chef Tour will visit cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Baltimore, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Michael Schlow, Marcus Samuelsson and Walter “The American Chef” Scheib are among the host of celebrity chefs participating.

In addition, the 2010 James Beard Awards will be presented in association with Visa Signature. The annual awards show is the nation’s most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. This year Food Network star and James Beard Award winner Alton Brown and two James Beard Outstanding Chef Award winners, Lidia Bastianich and Wolfgang Puck, will host the May 3 event at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

“We are proud to have Visa Signature as an integral part of the events and programs we present all year long which are designed to educate, inspire, entertain, and foster a deeper understanding of American cuisine,” said James Beard Foundation President Susan Ungaro. “And we look forward to their sponsorship of our ten regional Best Chef Awards, which is a perfect fit with a company that has been a leader in the restaurant and hospitality world.”

These and other special benefits for Visa Signature cardholders will be updated throughout the year. Visa Signature cardholders can visit http://www.visa.com/signature anytime to check out the latest perks and upcoming events.

Visa Signature is a premium payment card which offers cardholders a range of benefits, in addition to rewards programs that may be offered by Visa Signature partners, such as airline, hotel and cash back programs. Visa Signature cardholders enjoy access to a host of perks, including complimentary concierge services, the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, and everyday values, such as special offers on movie tickets and discounts at select retailers, to VIP tickets for premier concerts, Broadway shows and epicurean events, and once-in-a-lifetime packages for events such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. For more information about Visa Signature, visit www.visa.com/signature.

About Visa Inc.

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is the world’s most advanced processing network—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visitwww.corporate.visa.com.

About the James Beard Foundation

Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6273270&lang=en

Contacts

Visa Inc.

Kate Mulhearn, 650-432-1113

kmulhear@visa.com

or

James Beard Foundation

Diane Stefani or Heather Caulfield, 212-225-8455

diane@rosengrouppr.com

heather@rosengrouppr.com

Permalink: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100503006406/en/Visa-Signature-Named-Official-Payment-Card-James

Visa Signature Named Official Payment Card of the James Beard Foundation

NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The James Beard Foundation and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) today announced a partnership that makes Visa Signature the preferred payment method for all of the culinary organization’s events and provides Visa Signature cardholders access to exclusive epicurean experiences featuring some of the world’s most renown chefs. The relationship brings the experience of dining at the famous the James Beard House to a national level, showcasing the excellence of the Foundation through the 2010 Celebrity Chef Tour program and encompasses the prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards as well as brand alignment on all sales, promotions and advertising of Visa offers and payment services.

“This partnership provides Visa Signature cardholders with access to the chefs, vintners and restaurateurs that are leading their fields in quality, creativity and innovation.”

“Visa Signature cardholders have a passion for the very best in food and wine,” Stacey Pinkerd, Head of Global Consumer Products Strategy, Visa Inc. “This partnership provides Visa Signature cardholders with access to the chefs, vintners and restaurateurs that are leading their fields in quality, creativity and innovation.”

Visa Signature cardholders will receive a number of benefits through this partnership, including exclusive Visa Signature presale and preferred pricing on tickets to Celebrity Chef Tour dinners benefiting the James Beard Foundation. The 2010 Celebrity Chef Tour will visit cities including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Toronto, Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Baltimore, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Michael Schlow, Marcus Samuelsson and Walter “The American Chef” Scheib are among the host of celebrity chefs participating.

In addition, the 2010 James Beard Awards will be presented in association with Visa Signature. The annual awards show is the nation’s most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries. This year Food Network star and James Beard Award winner Alton Brown and two James Beard Outstanding Chef Award winners, Lidia Bastianich and Wolfgang Puck, will host the May 3 event at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

“We are proud to have Visa Signature as an integral part of the events and programs we present all year long which are designed to educate, inspire, entertain, and foster a deeper understanding of American cuisine,” said James Beard Foundation President Susan Ungaro. “And we look forward to their sponsorship of our ten regional Best Chef Awards, which is a perfect fit with a company that has been a leader in the restaurant and hospitality world.”

These and other special benefits for Visa Signature cardholders will be updated throughout the year. Visa Signature cardholders can visit http://www.visa.com/signature anytime to check out the latest perks and upcoming events.

Visa Signature is a premium payment card which offers cardholders a range of benefits, in addition to rewards programs that may be offered by Visa Signature partners, such as airline, hotel and cash back programs. Visa Signature cardholders enjoy access to a host of perks, including complimentary concierge services, the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, and everyday values, such as special offers on movie tickets and discounts at select retailers, to VIP tickets for premier concerts, Broadway shows and epicurean events, and once-in-a-lifetime packages for events such as the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. For more information about Visa Signature, visit www.visa.com/signature.

About Visa Inc.

Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is the world’s most advanced processing network—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visitwww.corporate.visa.com.

About the James Beard Foundation

Founded in 1986, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America’s culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. For more information, please visit www.jamesbeard.org. Find insights on food at the James Beard Foundation’s blog Delights & Prejudices. Join the James Beard Foundation on Facebook. Follow the James Beard Foundation on Twitter.

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Contacts

Visa Inc.

Kate Mulhearn, 650-432-1113

kmulhear@visa.com

or

James Beard Foundation

Diane Stefani or Heather Caulfield, 212-225-8455

diane@rosengrouppr.com

heather@rosengrouppr.com

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