Analytical Reports on Visa Inc. and Mastercard Incorporated - Move to Cashless Society Benefits Business Services

SOURCE: Signal Watch

October 10, 2011 08:05 ET

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Oct 10, 2011) - www.SignalWatcher.com provides members with proprietary analysis of over 10,000 stocks which is updated every day. Today, members can receive their complimentary stock analysis on Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) and Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Sign up now on www.SignalWatcher.com to get your free reports on these stocks.

Companies in the Business Services Industry like Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. have been performing strongly over the past 52 weeks, and the industry could be poised for continued gains as people around the globe move away from using cash. www.SignalWatcher.com gives traders a unique insight about Visa Inc. and Mastercard Incorporated by registering now at http://signalwatcher.com/V/October102011.php orhttp://signalwatcher.com/MA/October102011.php.

www.SignalWatcher.com brings investors free classic analysis on Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated and other companies within the Business Services industry. This type of analysis is only a fragment of the information members have available to them. To learn more we encourage investors to sign up at http://signalwatcher.com/EmailSignup.php.

Some people make the mistake of confusing credit card issuers from credit card processors. Companies such as Visa and Mastercard are credit card processors. They do not take consumer credit risk, nor are they exposed like many banks are to the European financial crisis.

Credit card processors in the Business Services industry are benefiting from not only a move away from cash, but new technology like Google's Google Wallet which allows consumers to purchase items in stores by swiping their smartphone over a reader instead of swiping a credit or debit card. Many licensing agreements between major players in the industry and Google have already gone through, and some major telecom companies are preparing to roll out their smartphone pay systems which will need partnership with credit card processors as well.

Many banks are considering charging monthly fees for debit card usage. Bank of America has already started doing so. Some say banks are implementing this new strategy in response to new government limitations on card interchange fees. Consumers seem to be the losers in this battle between merchants and banks, but many analysts believe the charges will not slow consumers' use of debit cards.

About Signal Watch

Signal Watch's #1 goal is to help customers successfully engage the markets. For over 20 years, we have been developing the most powerful trading software available anywhere. But the software is only part of our mission. We also provide education and customer support designed to enable our customers to take control of their financial future.

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Mobile Payments for Physical Goods = $170 Billion by 2015

SOURCE: Juniper Research Limited

October 06, 2011 04:00 ET

Mobile Payments for Physical Goods to Exceed $170bn Globally by 2015

HAMPSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Oct 6, 2011) - A new report by Juniper Research forecasts that the gross merchandise transaction value of mobile payments for physical goods will exceed $170 billion worldwide by 2015. This is nearly triple the $60 billion forecast for 2011.

Juniper Research found that initial growth had been fuelled by a dramatic upsurge in retail apps in the wake of the consumer smartphone explosion. However, there was an increasing industry awareness of the need to enable an integrated shopping experience within the wider context of a fast expanding eCommerce market, thus enabling seamless access to retail sites across multiple devices.

Senior analyst David Snow explained: "Our research for this report underlined the importance of mobile as an extra channel to market, but Juniper believes that mobile campaigns must be tightly linked to print, online and store based campaigns to ensure consistency of customer experience. Increasingly people will browse on one device such as a PC and then buy from another such as a smartphone."

However, the Juniper report also advises that vendors need to innovate unceasingly as the market develops and becomes more competitive.

Further key research from the mobile payments report shows:

• The market will gain further momentum in the medium term following the increasing deployment of POS (point of sale) solutions to facilitate in-store cashless transactions.
• Retailers have observed a marked uplift in average transaction value when cash is replaced by a mobile payment method.

The report uses an innovative quadrant approach to compare the positioning of some 17 mobile payments vendors. These vendors are also profiled in the report, allowing the reader to pinpoint their strategies. The forecasts provide detailed five year regional data for mobile payments for digital & physical goods, showing key parameters which include subscriber take-up, transaction sizes and volumes. Also revealed are the strategies used to enable consumers to pay by mobile through case studies from companies such as Brooks Brothers and Danal.

The whitepaper: 'The Goods, the Payment and the Mobile!' and further details of the new mobile digital and physical goods study can be freely downloaded from our website. Alternatively please contact jess.hanslip@juniperresearch.com +44(0)1256 830001.

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

cMoney Acquiring Core Beta Platform

SOURCE: cMoney, Inc

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - Oct 6, 2011) - cMoney, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: CMEY) is a Houston-based company that is at the forefront of global mobile phone-based payments and money transfers, while using the POS and ATM payment systems. The cMoney solution utilizes secure patent pending technology for mobile phone users, retailers, and financial institutions, which continues to innovate and strengthen the cMoney brand globally. cMoney has acquired funding in excess of $2 (two) million USD from a private investor which will allow us to obtain our core platform application that supports the patents.

By raising these funds, cMoney is able to finalize its acquisition of its core application which was designed by a third party technology firm. The acquisition will now allow for the development and deployment of the full cMoney solution. An updated Version 2 product has been developed and made available to use as a powerful resource when forming potential alliances with banks or mobile carriers. Remaining funds are allocated for cMoney to complete its auditing and legal requirements in preparation for the S-1 filing.

After the acquisition of our core platform product is complete, cMoney will enter into an agreement with a "Cloud" provider. The agreement will be provisioned to our specifications and will allow the cMoney solution to work more efficiently.

Paul Matthews, cMoney CEO, states, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal and long standing shareholders from around the world who have taken their time to provide positive feedback, invaluable constructive comments, and support. cMoney will continue to listen and earn our shareholders' loyalty, which will allow us to continue to 'MOVE MONEY AT THE SPEED OF NOW.'"

About cMoney, Inc. cMoney, Inc., a Houston-based technology company that provides innovative secure mobile payment solutions for mobile phone users, retailers and financial institutions, has developed an innovative way to send money and pay for goods and services using a mobile phone and the text messaging system protected by patents. Scheduled to debut in 2011, the pioneering technology will create a "virtual wallet" that will eliminate exposure to identity and credit card theft for users. It can be used anywhere that cash, checks, ATMs or credit cards are accepted. For more information, visit www.cmoney.com or contact contactus@cmoney.com.

RIM Unveils BlackBerry Tag-Coming Soon to BlackBerry Smartphones

October 10, 2011 02:30 ET

- BlackBerry Tag enables effortless 'tap to share' exchanges of multimedia content and contact info between friends

- Friends can also add each other as BBM contacts with a simple 'tap'

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--(Marketwire - Oct. 10, 2011) - GITEX – During his keynote presentation at the GITEX conference in Dubai, Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) Co-CEO Jim Balsillie today unveiled a new way for BlackBerry® smartphone users to connect with one another and share multimedia content.

BlackBerry® Tag, which will be incorporated in the next BlackBerry® 7 OS update*, will allow users to share contact information, documents, URLs, photos and other multimedia content by simply tapping their BlackBerry smartphones together. BlackBerry Tag will also enable friends to instantly add one another as contacts on BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger).

"BlackBerry Tag is an exciting and innovative feature that makes sharing contact information and multimedia content effortless and seamless," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Tag opens a new dimension to the BlackBerry platform that is powerful, simple and intuitive and we think it will be welcomed by both users and developers."

BlackBerry Tag takes advantage of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology included in the recently launched BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900/9930 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9350/9360/9370 smartphones, and these are the first BlackBerry smartphones that will support BlackBerry Tag.

RIM also announced plans to expose BlackBerry Tag through APIs on the BlackBerry platform, allowing software developers to take advantage of "tap to share" functionality from within their own applications.

* Subject to network operator certifications. Check with your local operator for availability.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visitwww.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com orwww.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Hagens Berman Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits against Green Dot and NetSpend

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hagens Berman has filed two lawsuits on behalf of Nevada-based Integrated Technological Systems, Inc. (ITS) alleging that two major providers of prepaid debit cards, Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT) and NetSpend (NASDAQ GS:NTSP) are infringing an ITS patent on a system and method for transfers between prepaid debit cards.

“We hope to serve the public interest by protecting the rights of inventors who otherwise might find it impossible to challenge large companies with a deep bench of legal talent.”

According to the complaint, Green Dot uses its infringing system to effect transfers from its MoneyPak Card to Green Dot and various other prepaid debit cards. NetSpend, likewise, uses its infringing system to effect transfers between its customers’ NetSpend’s General Purpose Renewable (GPR) prepaid debit cards.

Hagens Berman attorneys believe that these programs infringe Patent No. 7,912,786, which is owned by Nevada technology company Integrated Technological Systems. The ‘786 patent is entitled “Integrated Technology Money Transfer System.”

“We are confident that the court will agree with us that the ‘786 patent clearly covers the programs operated by both defendants,” said Steve Berman, managing partner for Hagens Berman. “We hope to quickly move this case to discovery and ultimately, to trial.”

The cases, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, ask the court for a permanent injunction preventing infringement of the patent in the future. The complaints also ask the court to award damages for the infringement.

Hagens Berman launched its intellectual property practice group last March. Berman believes the firm’s past successes in class-action litigation can be translated into success in intellectual property work.

“Our mission is to represent plaintiffs, including consumers, whistleblowers, investors, workers and now inventors and small companies who have been harmed by large corporations,” said Berman. “We hope to serve the public interest by protecting the rights of inventors who otherwise might find it impossible to challenge large companies with a deep bench of legal talent.”

More about the cases, including the complaints can be found at www.hbssip.com/cases/Greendot.

About Hagens Berman

Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a class-action law firm with offices in 10 cities. The firm represents consumers, whistleblowers, investors, workers and inventors in complex litigation. More about the law firm and its successes can be found atwww.hbsslaw.com. The firm’s intellectual property page is located at www.hbssip.com.

Contacts

Firmani + Associates, Inc.
Media Contact
Mark Firmani, 206-443-9357
mark@firmani.com

Business Roundtable to Unveil New Cybersecurity Strategy to Boost U.S. Economic and National Security

October 10, 2011 06:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Business Roundtable (BRT):

WHAT:			Ten years after 9/11, the CEOs of three leading American companies will release a strategy for smarter, more effective cybersecurity to bolster the resilience of information systems that undergird U.S. economic and military strength.
WHO:			Ajay Banga
			President and CEO, MasterCard Inc.
			Francisco D’Souza
			President and CEO, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation
			Paul Jacobs
			Chairman and CEO, Qualcomm Inc.
WHEN:			Tuesday, October 11, 2011
			10:30-11:30 a.m. EDT
WHERE:			To dial into the teleconference briefing:
			Dial-in telephone number: 888-606-8413
			Passcode: Roundtable
			Callers will be asked for their name and media outlet before they are admitted to the call. If you encounter any problems, please call Joe Crea at 202-436-6314.

Business Roundtable (BRT) is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with over $6 trillion in annual revenues and more than 14 million employees. BRT member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock market and invest more than $150 billion annually in research and development – nearly half of all private U.S. R&D spending. Our companies pay $163 billion in dividends to shareholders and generate an estimated $420 billion in sales for small and medium-sized businesses annually.

BRT companies give nearly $9 billion a year in combined charitable contributions.

Please visit us at www.brt.org, check us out on Facebook and LinkedIn, and follow us on Twitter.

Contacts

Business Roundtable (BRT)
Kirk Monroe, 202-496-3269
or
Joe Crea, 202-496-3288

Subway to install MasterCard PayPass at 7000 Locations by End of Year

SUBWAY^® Restaurants to Accept Contactless Payments with MasterCard^® PayPass™

Installs New Tap & Go™ Payment Readers to Increase Speed and Convenience at the Point of Sale

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MasterCard Worldwide today announced that SUBWAY^®, the world's largest submarine sandwich franchise, will accept MasterCard^® PayPass™ contactless payments at more than 7,000 U.S. locations by the end of the first quarter of 2012. Consumers will now have a quick, convenient option to pay for their meal by simply tapping a MasterCardPayPass-enabled card or device at the register.

“SUBWAY’s decision to provide PayPass acceptance is a testament to the popularity of contactless payments and our shared goal of providing consumers a faster and more convenient payment experience and a more enjoyable dining experience.”

“Our fans are accustomed to having choices when they walk through our doors,” said Tony Pace, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, SUBWAY^® Franchisee Advertising Fund. “Now with MasterCard PayPass, they'll have another payment choice that is convenient and easy to use."

Amid growing preference for electronic payments over cash and check, consumers are increasingly turning to contactless payments. As of the second quarter of 2011, nearly 100 millionPayPass-enabled cards and devices have been issued worldwide. Whether enabled via a phone, card, key fob, mobile payment tag or other device, MasterCard’s PayPass technology offers consumers a simple, easy and convenient way to pay for goods and services at 341,000 merchant locations worldwide.

“Since 2002, MasterCard has been at the forefront of contactless payment innovations, bringing the convenience and speed of PayPasstechnology to both consumers and merchants,” said Mario Shiliashki, Senior Vice President and Group Head, U.S. Emerging Payments, MasterCard Worldwide. “SUBWAY’s decision to provide PayPass acceptance is a testament to the popularity of contactless payments and our shared goal of providing consumers a faster and more convenient payment experience and a more enjoyable dining experience.”

With MasterCard PayPass, SUBWAY customers simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card, phone or device on a PayPass-accepting reader at check-out. MasterCard PayPass does not require customers to sign receipts for purchases under $50, further speeding up the transaction. MasterCard PayPass is currently accepted within several merchant categories where speed and convenience are essential, such as quick-service restaurants, retail, airports, sports stadiums and arenas, supermarkets, vending machines, and taxis.

About SUBWAY^® Restaurants

Headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, and with regional offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Brisbane, Miami and Singapore, the SUBWAY® chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. Their partnership, which continues today, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey - one that has made it possible for thousands of individuals to build and succeed in their own business.

In the 2011 Zagat® Fast Food Survey, for the third year in a row, the SUBWAY® brand was ranked "number one" by consumers in the "Most Popular," "Top Service" and "Healthy Options" categories for food brands with 5,000 or more locations.

For more information about the SUBWAY® chain, visit www.subway.com.
Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/subway.
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/subwayfreshbuzz.
SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor's Associates Inc.

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA) is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities - such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances - easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Learn more at www.mastercard.com, follow us on Twitter@mastercardnews or join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog.

Visa Inc. Survey: Credit Score Myths Run Rampant

Misconceptions include 60% who think employment history matters and 17% who believe gender impacts score

A poor credit score can mean thousands of dollars in higher interest payments

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite the importance of credit scores impacting everything from the ability to get a home loan to being hired for a job, a new Visa Inc. survey finds that many Americans don't know what determines a credit score.  Among the findings, 60% of those surveyed incorrectly believe employment history factors in to a credit score and 17% who think gender has an impact.

Of particular concern, 42% of Americans fail to regularly check their score. Knowing your score allows you to makes changes, if needed, to improve it in advance of a major financial decision, such as applying for a mortgage. "Credit scores are the equivalent of our financial grade point average," said Jason Alderman, Senior Director of Global Financial Education, Visa Inc. "Understanding your credit score is vital so that you can take steps to improve it. Not checking your score at least once a year is like driving with your eyes closed – you are risking a financial collision."

Below are the percentages of respondents who incorrectly thought these factors are included in determining credit scores:

• Employment history: 59.9%
• Interest rates on debt: 58.7%
• Assets / savings: 53.1%
• Age: 38.6%
• Where you live: 25.3%
• National origin: 21.6%
• Ability to speak English: 21.6%
• Gender: 17.2%
• Race: 15.7%

"If people believe that unchangeable factors like race, gender and national origin impact their credit score, then there is little incentive to make changes with things that truly do make a difference, like paying bills on time," said Alderman.

An individual's credit score is a number (between 300 and 850) assigned by a credit bureau that helps lenders decide how creditworthy that person is – the higher the score, the lower the risk. The most commonly used scoring system is the FICO score. A good FICO score can mean saving tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime in reduced interest rates on home and auto loans.

FICO scores are calculated from different data in your credit report including payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new credit, and types of credit used. FICO scores do not include factors such as age, national origin, gender, race, religion, education level, or marital status.

The best way to improve a credit score is to pay bills on time. Working to reduce the amount of debt that is owed is also imperative. Additionally, it's also important that when applying for and opening new credit accounts, you do so only as needed.

The survey results are based on 1,006 telephone interviews conducted among adults aged 18 or older nationally fromSeptember 8-11, 2011 in cooperation with GfK Roper OmniTel. To learn more about credit scores and how to protect or improve a credit score, visit www.whatsmyscore.org, a financial literacy program run by Visa Inc. The site also features a free FICO Score Estimator that can help consumers approximate their score.

About Visa
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 one of the world's most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 20,000 transaction messages 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, visit www.corporate.visa.com.

SOURCE Visa Inc.