Wednesday, March 21, 2012

NFC Payment News from March 20th, 2012

Google Wallet Logo
Google Wallet Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


By:Dan Balaban

The departure of two key former Google Wallet staffers from the company to start their own mobile-commerce venture is throwing a spotlight on what have been internal disagreements at the Web giant over strategy for the NFC-based wallet.
...


The Dubai-based bank has partnered with mobile network operator Etisalat, Visa and Gemalto to introduce NFC payments in the United Arab Emirates.
Related news
  1. Etisalat partners with Emirates NBD to launch...





FreedomPop, the startup backed by Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom that aims to provide mobile broadband on a “freemium” model, will launch a case for Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S that will allow customers to share a mobile WiMAX connection with up to eight...





Taiwan’s government plans to award 4G licenses by July 2014, the country’s Communications Minister has announced. Click here for more.







Vietnam’s government is reported to be planning a merger of the two state-owned mobile networks, Vinaphone and MobiFone. Click here for more.







An exec at the troubled USA based LightSquared has left the company to join the UK based O2 as the new head of its business development division. Click here for more.







A new imaging system could use opaque walls, doors or floors as ‘mirrors’ to gather information about scenes outside its line of sight Click here for more.







Within the last year, there has been a huge shift in mobile messaging markets. One of the biggest themes being discussed in the US$202 billion mobile messaging industry is this issue of ‘the end of SMS’ and the booming rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) messaging services Click here for more





Linedata (NYSE Euronext: LIN), the global solutions provider dedicated to the investment management and credit industries, today announced that it …






Datacard Group, the world leader in secure ID and card personalization solutions, today announced that CardPro Solutions Pvt. Ltd.-a manufacturer, …






Moody’s Analytics, a leading independent provider of economic data and analysis, today announced the launch of Dismal Scientist® for iPad® mobile …






Clairmail, Inc., the leader in mobile customer interaction for banking and payment solutions, recently named Mitch Stein as Director of Innovation …






TransCard is pleased to announce the completion of contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) certification for MasterCard PayPass® contactless …






DataArt, a custom software development firm that builds advanced solutions for select industries, today announced completion of mobile banking apps …






India’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the government to overturn its earlier ruling that Vodafone is not liable for tax on its 2007 purchase of Hutchison-Essar. Click here for more.







Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a recognized leader in global treasury and trade solutions, today announced the launch of Trade Pro®, an electronic …






Semafone today announced that it has appointed David Sear, divisional managing director of Travelex Global Business Payments and a former director of …






Options IT, provider of the Options PIPE Private Financial Cloud services platform for the exchange, banking, trading and investment communities, …






The Avaloq group, the reference for integrated and comprehensive banking solutions, today announces the appointment of Thomas Beck as new Head of …






The global service provider switching and routing (SPSR) market will hit revenues of US$20.5bn in 2017 from US$13.3bn in 2010, with a CAGR of 6.4 per cent over the period, predicts Ovum. Click here for more.







CashStar, the pioneer and market leader in eGifting, is expanding its operations and services to the United Kingdom.






Sterci, international leader in financial messaging, has announced today that SCOR Paris Hub will use beginning of April Sterci’s 3SKey solution to …






Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions and the largest provider of business-driven …






Bloomberg executives announced today that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the largest independent regulator for securities firms …






A survey of mobile app developers has found an accelerating interest in social mobile capabilities, and — notwithstanding Facebook’s 900 million users — developers view Google and its broad range of assets as key to implementing their social strategies in 2012. Click here for...





Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) CEO Lowell McAdam’s compensation tripled to $23.1 million since being promoted from COO last July.

McAdam
McAdam took over the CEO reins from Ivan Seidenberg who retired last year.
Ongoing growth in its wireless division and an increase in the share...





Mozilla stepped into the spotlight last month when it announced its first ecosystem partners for its HTML5-based mobile operating system, Boot to Gecko. But, there are still many unanswered questions, such as how apps in the Mozilla Marketplace will be discovered and how revenue will be split with...





While real build-out is restricted to 54 projects, mainly in the south and east, the potential is still great — and 60% of the total investment will benefit telecom firms, says Lux Research.
Click here for more.







India’s Bharat Telecom Ltd (BTL) is moving ahead with its $30 million Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network plan that will connect 50,000 homes and businesses in Mauritius.
In addition to delivering services directly to customers themselves, the Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network...





Apple may have the hottest stock, the coolest tech and the biggest cash pile in history, but consumers would still be wary of switching their bank …






Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) disclosed late Monday that it has sold more than three million units of its new iPad tablet since the device went on sale Friday morning, bearing out Apple CEO Tim Cook’s proclamation that the company had a “record” weekend for iPad sales.






Symantec is acquiring mobile application management platform Nukona, a move designed to offer cross-platform mobile security services to IT organizations. Financial terms were not disclosed. Earlier this month, Symantec purchased mobile device management firm Odyssey Software, stating it will help...





Halfbrick Studios, the game developer behind the mobile smash Fruit Ninja, is acquiring Onan Games, which created the Mandreel software porting technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mandreel enables developers to support iOS, Android, HTML5 and Flash development from a single C++ code...





mHealth continues to see substantial growth, and is expected to continue expansion as business models and significant value offerings continue to evolve in tandem with the fast paced world of mobile technologies. Click here for more.







Business intelligence (BI) and analytics software will remain front and centre for IT and business agendas in 2012, according to Ovum. Click here for more.







Advertising on mobile devices in the UK rocketed by 157% in 2011, to a new high of andpound;203.2 million, according to the annual IAB and PwC mobile advertising spend study. Click here for more.







Sprint Nextel’s (NYSE:S) stock slipped 4.5 percent Monday after a financial analyst said the carrier faces an increasing risk of bankruptcy amid large debt commitments, its multibillion-dollar network upgrade and costs associated with selling Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone. However, other...





Escher Group, a provider of transaction processing solutions for the postal industry, has formed a new NFC division. Escher Interactive Services will focus on offering managed services, identity management and NFC applications for retailers and…





Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) is reducing the price of its Family Locator application to a flat $9.99 per month for all subscribers on a Family SharePlan. Verizon previously charged $9.99 per month for each member on the account.

Family Locator offers parents real-time information on their...





The U.S. wireless market generated $67 billion in mobile data revenues in 2011, a number expected to increase to $80 billion in 2012, according to a new report published by Chetan Sharma Consulting.
The U.S. mobile data market grew 19 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year. Although the U.S....





The U.S. wireless market generated $67 billion in mobile data revenues in 2011, a number expected to increase to $80 billion in 2012, according to a new report published by Chetan Sharma Consulting.
The U.S. mobile data market grew 19 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year. Although the U.S....





Overture is making an official move to expand its presence in the lucrative Canadian telecom market by appointing Fraser Moffatt as its new regional vice president of sales, Canada.
Moffatt, a 20-year telecom veteran based in Vancouver, British Columbia, is no stranger to this market, having...






Company leads discussions on infotainment delivered to vehicles

UIEvolution has been a leader in the mobile and telematics industry for many years, and we are looking forward to sharing in the discussions among senior level executives in this industry.
Kirkland, Wash (PRWEB)






In a technology driven world of opportunity for up and coming businesses, the demand for unique, flexible payment solutions has become a near necessity for any mobile merchant wanting to take credit and debit card payments from customers anytime, anywhere. In a world of fierce competition,...





Diasoft, a global provider of cutting-edge core banking solutions, has successfully completed the implementation of FLEXTERA Money Transfers in …






In the U.S. broadband race, cable operators have the upper hand over traditional telcos, according to Leichtman Research Group’s latest report.
As the two largest U.S. telcos, namely AT&T (NYSE: T) and Verizon (NYSE: VZ) begin to wind down their respective U-verse and FiOS rollouts, cable...





Mobile gaming revenues derived from tablets will reach $3.1 billion in 2014, up from $491 million in 2011, according to a new forecast by Juniper Research.

Click here to zoom in on this chart.
Crediting the larger screen size and superior graphics capabilities of the tablet format for...






Smart Posters Ltd has launched a new range of smart stickers doubling the company’s range of NFC products. The launch took place at the Retail Business Technology Expo at London’s Earls Court. The smart stickers are manufactured by Signbox Ltd and offer exciting new promity...





Vendor-agnostic session border controllers (SBCs) will continue to play a key role as more and more businesses adopt SIP trunking for their voice and unified communications (UC) needs, Acme Packet executives and industry analysts said during a recent summit held at the Harvard University Faculty...





GuestLogix has launched Global Payment Services, a payments processing platform for airlines that supports NFC as well as cash and credit card transactions, debit cards, loyalty cards, coupons, pre-payments and micropayments. The service is compatible…
Read the rest of GuestLogix takes NFC on...





Crooks have figured out a way to illegally obtain SIM cards, causing a headache for the contactless payments market.






Transaction Network Services said Monday that it is launching a mobile payment gateway service for its customers.











Blaze Mobile has been awarded a new patent for mobile banking and payment transactions, covering any transactions that comprise bill payment, peer-to-peer (P2P) funds transfer and funds transfer between bank accounts and credit cards.
In all cases, the patent covers the funding of the banking...





MoneyGram International (NYSE: MGI), a leading global money transfer company, and Fiserv, Inc., a leading global provider of financial services …






Delta One Data, the market leader in global Index and ETF data, today announces the hire of Cory MacLaren as Global Operations Director.






AmerBrokers, a Polish financial institution regulated by Komisja Nadzoru Finansowago (KNF) and a member of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), has …






As Asian companies cut back on the number of banks they use for domestic cash management services, it is often foreign banks and global competitors …






Seth Merrin, founder and CEO of Liquidnet, the global institutional trading network, advised exchange leaders to look for new alternatives over …






ACI Worldwide (Nasdaq:ACIW), a leading international provider of payments systems, today announced the availability of the latest version of …






Australia’s Commonwealth Bank has announced that more than 120,000 customers have downloaded its Kaching mobile banking and contactless payments app since its launch in December, according to iTWire.
Commbank did not disclose how many out of those 120,000 are using the app’s contactless...





CardinalCommerce, the world leader in enabling remote commerce (internet, mobile, etc.), today announced that it has secured additional intellectual …






Volante Technologies, provider of integration technology for business information agility, today announced its release of the latest SWIFT Standards …






Large companies and their corporate payments systems remain the prime targets for fraudsters, according to the 2012 AFP Payments Fraud and Control …






BuzzBanking, developer of the financial services platform that combines social media banking with a rewards program, today announced that Dan Mica …






FutureAdvisor, a company who believes financial advice should be accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy, today launched the company and its …






Pricing Partners, the world leader in OTC derivatives pricing analytics, mathematical models and independent valuation, announced today that Hana …






The implementation project was started in March of 2011 when Scila Surveillance was selected as the preferred solution following a competitive bid …






London Stock Exchange Group plc (“LSEG” or “the Group”) today announces that J.P. Morgan is now live on its UnaVista Swaps Portal in Europe.






Sharp Japan has launched a 10.1″ Android NFC tablet, expanding on the 7-inch tablet with NFC capabilities it unveiled last year. The RW-T110 is aimed at the enterprise market and features a nine hour battery…

...





Shunned by telcos and banks alike, Google’s effort to break into the mobile payments market is suffering further strife with the departure of its …






Kenya’s telecoms regulator, the CCK has dismissed calls for surrender of broadcasting spectrum in the 700MHz band for use in deployment of LTE services as ill-timed and impracticable. Click here for more.







Israeli mobile network operator Cellcom is set to launch an NFC payments service in collaboration with Israel Credit Cards Ltd (ICC-Cal) in the next few weeks, sources have told business publication Globes. The companies have already reached an…
Read the rest of Cellcom and ICC-Cal to...





Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has awarded a network upgrade contract to Nokia Siemens Networks. Click here for more.







According to Frost and Sullivan M2M non connectivity revenue to total M2M revenue in Europe amounted to 3 percent in 2010 and 4.2 percent in 2011. Click here for more.







Orange Uganda has sold its passive network infrastructure and assets to Eaton Towers under a sale and lease-back agreement. Click here for more.







The new iPad, equipped with 32GB of NAND flash memory and LTE wireless capability, carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $364.35. When the $10.75 manufacturing costs are added in, the cost to produce the new iPad rises to $375.10. Click here for more.







Qatar’s telecoms regulator, ictQATAR has issued its first comprehensive Radio Spectrum Policy, which aims to balance the allocation of spectrum between the public and private sectors, and includes radio spectrum allocation and national frequency allocation. Click here for more.







The introduction of open loop “tap and go” payments could cut commuting time by nearly an hour a week, a survey conducted for MasterCard has found, and 47% of commuters would be willing to use their mobile phone to make transit payments.





Deutsche Börse is to sue the European Commission over its decision to block a proposed $9 billion merger with Nyse Euronext.






Nokia and Microsoft’s push behind Windows Phone 7 (WP7) has started to pay dividends as sales edge ahead of Symbian in Great Britain in latest data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Click here for more.







International yoghurt retailer Pinkberry has added support for Google Wallet payments and offers at 69 of its US outlets. The Google Wallet functionality has been integrated into Pinkberry’s POS system by hospitality systems specialist Micros. This article was…
Read the rest of





VeriFone Systems, Inc. (NYSE: PAY), today announced that U.S. transaction volume through its PAYware Connect gateway has achieved an annual rate …






Exegy Incorporated, the market data appliance company, MarketPrizm, a leading provider of ultra low latency market data and trading infrastructure …






Payfirma, the leader of mobile point of sale apps for businesses in Canada, is proud to announce the release of its Android Mobile Payment App.






IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new consulting services and software that take the power of predictive analytics to new levels of impact for the …






Callataÿ & Wouters, a global leader in core banking software and services, is proud to announce its second project in Poland in less than half a year.






BPC Banking Technologies, the leading provider of Open System e-payment solutions for the global financial industry, announces that Bank of Baku has …






The GSMA and the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) today announced they are working together to simplify connectivity to Wi-Fi hotspots from mobile devices by developing technical and commercial frameworks for Wi-Fi roaming. Click here for more.







Equipos, the leading provider of client communications and reporting solutions for buy-side investment firms, has entered into partnership with HCL …






The clearing arm of SIX Securities Services, SIX x-clear Ltd, today announced that its fully interoperable clearing and risk management services are …






When it comes to mobile advertising, the goal for most brands and retailers is to drive possible sales and leads. Therefore, including a click-to-call feature is a natural way for companies to create a one-on-one relationship with consumers.






A new report from Juniper Research finds that the rapidly increasing tablet user base and the unique form factor of this device will push total end-user games revenues on tablets to $3.1 billion by 2014, up from $491 million in 2011. Click here for more.








A few retailers are readying mobile payments for their store credit cards
While Google, ISIS and credit card networks have been a big focus of early mobile payments discussions, retailers are taking steps to ensure their critical relationships with customers are not marginalized as the race toward...





Apple has announced it has sold three million of its new iPad, since its launch last Friday. Click here for more.







ZTE today released the world’s first 3.5GHz high-power TD-LTE distributed base station. Click here for more.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

TransCard certified for NFC contactless payments

N-Mark Logo for certified devices
N-Mark Logo for certified devices (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Chattanooga, Tenn., March 20, 2012 -- TransCard is pleased to announce the completion of contactless Near Field Communication (NFC) certification for MasterCard PayPass® contactless payment transactions. Financial institutions and corporate clients working with TransCard will be able to offer contactless payment programs that are either stand-alone or connected to an existing TransCard prepaid card account.

The recent announcements around NFC have validated the product in the minds of merchants and consumers. In June, the Financial Times reported that Google Executive Chairman Eric E. Schmidt believes a third of check-out terminals in retail stores and restaurants will be upgraded to allow wireless “tap and pay” from mobile phones within the next year. Such a development will prepare the ground for what he believes will be a “trillion dollar” industry of mobile advertising and payments.

Craig Fuller, CEO of TransCard, stated, "We are tremendously excited about the momentum in the NFC universe and the growing interest in contactless and mobile payments. We believe an entire eco-system is developing around NFC payments and TransCard is proud to be one of the select group of prepaid processors that is contactless certified."

The pilots TransCard currently has underway will provide further evidence of the various applications NFC prepaid can serve.

MasterCard and PayPass are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated.

For more information about TransCard, visit www.transcard.com .

Source: Company press release.

CardinalCommerce secures additional mobile tech patents

Mentor, Ohio, March 20, 2012- CardinalCommerce, the world leader in enabling remote commerce (internet, mobile, etc.), today announced that it has secured additional intellectual property protection for its mobile products and services in both Australia and United States. The patent offices have respectively awarded Patent 2006272641 (Australia) and have allowed claims for application 12/986,388 (US) and, as such, the Cardinal platforms, including those that extend existing systems to the mobile channel, are afforded the benefit of further protection under law.

These new patents strengthen Cardinal's overall intellectual property portfolio and enhance its position with regard to mobile transactions. Communicating via text messaging to consumers from databases based on promotions, purchases and information is a key component of mobile commerce. "Our mobile platform includes an easily customized rules engine that enables users to access data, seamlessly linking consumers, merchants and banks together in a WAP, APP or text format.", said Chandra Balasubramanian, Cardinal's Chief Technology Officer. "Our unique technology includes the components, tools and self-service capability to easily extend existing databases to the mobile channel, as well as other distribution channels."

"Cardinal has been very successful not only in securing core patents internationally, but in supporting the effort with complementary patents and applications to ensure a broad and comprehensive portfolio.", said Patrick Roche, a partner with Fay Sharpe LLP, a prominent IP firm.

Mike Keresman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CardinalCommerce commented, "It is gratifying to see the years of planning and hard work come to fruition. We have demonstrated experience with hundreds of mobile Customers, including wallet providers, banks, merchants and financial service providers that have completed hundreds of millions of transactions. Securing the intellectual property to protect our business and, perhaps more importantly, provide potential intellectual property safe haven to our Customers and partners is an important milestone for us. The combination of our intellectual property and established technology capability can essentially 'future proof' our Customer's needs."

Cardinal's patent portfolio now includes 24 issued patents and over 60 applications pending.

About CardinalCommerce

CardinalCommerce has been a pioneer in the remote payments industry since 1999 and is a branded global leader in enabling authenticated payment transactions in the electronic commerce and remote commerce markets.

Cardinal's SaaS software platforms for merchants, banks, processors and transaction supply chain providers create friction-free interoperability among otherwise disparate and incompatible operating systems. Cardinal's platforms enable technology-neutral authentication across a wide range of applications. The Company's proprietary, patented solutions easily facilitate the addition of new technology for remote distribution channels through a single connection. This allows merchants to securely accept payments from the entire financial transaction ecosystem.

The universe of payments spans from traditional credit and debit card brands like MasterCard and Visa, to established and emerging alternative payment brands like PayPal, Green Dot, and Alipay. In accommodating this growing number of payment brands and methods, and these technology and authentication approaches within legacy infrastructure, Cardinal's platforms serve as universal switches, supporting virtually all merchant platforms, wallets, processing systems and authentication methodologies.

CardinalCommerce is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and services a worldwide Customer base from facilities in the United States, Europe and Africa. For more information, visit www.cardinalcommerce.com .

Source: Company press release.

UIEvolution Leads Presentation on The User Experience of Connected-Car Services

Company leads discussions on infotainment delivered to vehicles

Quote startUIEvolution has been a leader in the mobile and telematics industry for many years, and we are looking forward to sharing in the discussions among senior level executives in this industry.Quote end
Kirkland, Wash (PRWEB)
UIEvolution, Inc., a global leader in connected services for mobile, tablet, TV and automotive applications, announced today that its CEO and CTO will lead a presentation and speak on a panel with industry telematics experts on March 21, 2012 at Telematics Update’s V2X for Auto Safety and Mobility Conference in Novi, MI. UIEvolution will share the company’s thought-leadership and expertise in the connected in-vehicle infotainment industry.
Chris Ruff, UIEvolution’s CEO, will lead a presentation titled “UI and UX Technologies: Critical Components In Realizing the Value of V2I and V2V Tech”. Attendees will learn how user interface and user experience plays a key role in delivering a safer, more connected car experience. Ruff will also address how these technologies, as well as new wireless technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC), will make the car more useful and easier to manage, in addition to being safer.    
John Cary, UIEvolution’s CTO, will participate in a panel discussion titled “Moving The Transportation Industry into the 'Big Data' World”. This panel will discuss how companies outside of the traditional transportation space can provide new revenue sources in the telematics industry.
"UIEvolution has been a leader in the mobile and telematics industry for many years, and we are looking forward to sharing in the discussions among senior level executives in this industry,” said Chris Ruff, CEO of UIEvolution. “We have a long history and deep insight into telematics. We look forward to a lively discussion around the industry’s future, as well as the discussion of market opportunities and challenges faced as technologies evolve and the consumer market becomes more open to the benefits of connected car programs.”
What:     Presentation titled: “UI and UX Technologies: Critical Components In Realizing the
                Value of V2I and V2V Tech”
    Panel titled: “Moving The Transportation Industry into the 'Big Data' World”
Who:     Presented by Chris Ruff, President & CEO; John Cary, CTO of UIEvolution
When:     Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 10:40am and 3:20pm Eastern
Where:    Telematics Update’s V2X for Auto Safety & Mobility - Hotel Baronette, Novi, MI
About UIEvolution
UIEvolution is a global leader in connected services for mobile, tablet, TV and automotive applications. UIEvolution’s software solution breaks through the complexity of connected services by delivering native and HTML5 apps managed from a cloud-based platform, ensuring a great consumer engagement experience. With offices in the United States and Japan, UIEvolution has a proven track record with clients like Toyota, AT&T, Microsoft, Samsung, Mitsubishi, Hikari-TV and other Fortune 500 companies.
Visit online: http://www.uievolution.com 

Encore Payment Systems: A new frontier in mobile processing for your Android phone

In a technology driven world of opportunity for up and coming businesses, the demand for unique, flexible payment solutions has become a near necessity for any mobile merchant wanting to take credit and debit card payments from customers anytime, anywhere. In a world of fierce competition, cutting edge and low-cost solutions are every business owners dream. Enter the Clear Advantage Mobile from Encore Payment Systems powered by Android and the Qwikpay App.
Addison, TX (PRWEB) March 20, 2012
In a technology driven world of opportunity for up and coming businesses, the demand for unique, flexible payment solutions has become a near necessity for any mobile merchant wanting to take credit and debit card payments from customers anytime, anywhere. In a world of fierce competition, cutting edge and low-cost solutions are every business owners dream. Enter the Clear Advantage Mobile from Encore Payment Systems powered by Android and the Qwikpay App.
The Bluetooth enabled Clear Advantage Mobile device for Android is more than just a technological status symbol. With its sleek design and harmony with the ultra-secure Qwikpay app, available for free in the Android Market, merchants on the go will never have to turn down a customer or write down a card number again. Simply download the Qwikpay app, link the Bluetooth card reader and begin taking payments anywhere business may lead you.
Unlike many smart phone solutions, the Clear Advantage Mobile boasts full PCI standard security specs and a virtually limitless merchant account to accommodate anything from tips on weekends for growing musicians to full mobile retail sales for convention goers and mobile store fronts. Backed by Encore’s superior customer service and full lineup of business products, new revenues and business growth have never been easier.
The Clear Advantage Mobile powered by the QwikPay application is available for free in the App store and exclusively through Encore Payment Systems and its affiliated companies Momentum Payment Systems and Prodigy Payment Systems.
For further information visit http://encorepaymentsystems.net/gaw/contact.php?p=iphone 
or contact Justin Motz, marketing (at) encoreps (dot) com, (214) 442-1700 x1327
About Encore Payment Systems
Encore Payment Systems was established for the purpose of providing electronic payment processing solutions and other value-added services to small and medium-sized merchants throughout the United States. Encore is a leader in the electronic payment processing field providing credit card, debit card, ATM card, gift card, prepaid card, EBT and check processing services. Encore maintains a sincere dedication to superior customer service and an honest and ethical approach to acquiring new customers. This vision has enabled Encore to become one of the fastest growing companies in the industry excelling in all aspects of merchant services. Encore Payment Systems is located at 3801 Arapaho Road, Addison, Texas 75001. Please follow us on Twitter @EncorePS, like us on Facebook or visit Encore Payment Systems online at http://www.EncorePS.com.
About Clear Advantage
The Clear Advantage line-up, established in 2005, has evolved over the last six years from a single comprehensive merchant solution to a full line-up of multifunctional business solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses throughout the U.S. Its complete system can process a variety of electronic payments, including credit and debit cards, smart cards, gift and loyalty cards, prepaid cards, EBT, and electronic check conversion. The Clear Advantage Mobile is an ideal solution that allows merchants to take payments virtually anywhere they use their cell phone.

Smart Poster Ltd launches new NFC smart stickers


Smart Posters Ltd has launched a new range of smart stickers doubling the company's range of NFC products. The launch took place at the Retail Business Technology Expo at London’s Earls Court. The smart stickers are manufactured by Signbox Ltd and offer exciting new promity marketing opportunities especially to the reatil and leisure sectors.


NFC enabled smart sticers
The new range of NFC Smart Stickers from Smart Poster Ltd- set to dramatically change the face of the proximity marketing landscape.



Egham, Surrey (PRWEB UK) 20 March 2012
Smart Poster Ltd has this week revealed a brand new range of Smart Stickers featuring NFC technology - doubling their NFC product offering following the launch of the Enlighten Smart Poster last year. The revolutionary Smart Sticker range was rolled out at the Retail Business Technology Expo at London’s Earls Court in collaboration with sign manufacturer Signbox - demonstrating new proximity marketing opportunities to the retail and leisure sector.
Smart Stickers are an all-new NFC proximity marketing application that is presenting business with a fresh and intuitive way to engage with smartphone users. Manufactured from durable polyester film, Smart Stickers can be attached to shop windows or doors for an eye-catching ‘call to action’ to engage consumers.
The sticker’s NFC tag can be packed with information, which is retrievable by any NFC-enabled smartphone user with a fast, close proximity ‘tap’ of their handset. Now, businesses- big and small- including restaurants, estate agents and taxi companies are able to send tailored, relevant information to a smartphone handset in seconds. Smart Sticker can be custom printed with any image or graphic to match a business desired engagement experience.
It’s not only during business hours that Smart Stickers can engage consumers-a sticker’s NFC tag can be read by a smartphone through 8mm glass or acrylic-ultimately allowing business to connect with existing or potential customers 24-hours a day. Smartphone users can ‘tap’ their mobile phone to retrieve details of a property at estate agents, download a restaurant’s menu, call a taxi or claim an incentive voucher relating to a window advertisement even when the business is closed.
Mark Bartlett, Managing Director of Smart Poster Ltd comments: “NFC Smart Stickers and Smart Posters will certainly lead the way in proximity marketing developments over the coming months. Not least because of the endless communication opportunities the technology presents to businesses, but due to the very nature of the technology, consumers must ‘opt-in’ to engagement, unlike Bluetooth and location-based services-giving consumers more control and combating any privacy concerns.”
Smart Poster Ltd also launched an external IP 67 rated version of their Enlighten Smart Poste r at the Retail Business Technology Expo, which features an edge-to-edge glass face with no visible frame or fixing and a unique locking device for displays that demand security.
About Smart Poster Ltd
Smart Poster Ltd supply a range of proximity marketing product including Enlighten-a revolutionary smart poster that delivers enhanced customer engagement through new NFC (near field communication) proximity marketing, which is changing the way people interact with the brands and marketing messages that surround them.

Monday, March 19, 2012

MasterCard Survey Finds Commuters Ready to Kick Cash to the Curb in Favor of Contactless Payments


U.S. Transit Riders Estimate Saving an Hour on Weekly Commute with Simple and Convenient Tap & Go ™ Payments
PURCHASE, N.Y.--()--The simple act of paying to board mass transit can add significant stress to the daily commute. A new survey released today by MasterCard Worldwide finds that many of the top frustrations cited by U.S. commuters have to do with how they pay and that a majority recognize the benefits contactless payments can provide to improve the commuting experience.
“We are working with a number of public transportation agencies across the U.S. and around the globe to improve current ways to pay and riders in many cities, from Chicago to Philadelphia, are already benefiting from the innovation.”
The online survey, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of MasterCard between November 21 and December 6, 2011 among 1607 adults across seven major U.S. cities, evaluated common pain points transit riders have experienced when relying on cash to pay for their trip:
  • Nearly two-thirds of U.S. commuters who use cash for mass transit (65 percent) worry about not having enough cash on hand to pay for their trip, while more than one-third (36 percent) have actually been unable to take mass transit because they did not have enough cash on hand.
  • More than two in five U.S. commuters (44 percent) have missed a bus, train or subway while waiting in line to buy or add money onto a fare card.
  • Two-in-five riders who use cash for mass transit (42 percent) say worrying about needing correct change is one of their top frustrations when paying for their commute.
“The grind of the daily commute should not be compounded by the way you pay just to ride mass transit,” said Catherine Murchie, Senior Vice President, MasterCard Worldwide. “From our survey, we know that commuters want a better way to buy their fare and open-loop contactless payment options such as MasterCard PayPass eliminate the need to wait in line, fumble for exact change or carry multiple fare cards so that it easier to board and be on your way.”
When presented with the option to use a contactless payment option instead of cash on their daily commute, riders were clear in their desire for a better way to pay. Of those who take multiple modes of mass transit each day, three-quarters (75 percent) wish there was one payment card that could be used to access all mass transit systems near or within their local city. Two thirds of riders (66 percent) say they would be likely to use a Tap & Go form of payment to pay for mass transit if it were an option to them. Nearly half of all commuters (47 percent) say they would use their mobile phone to pay for mass transit.
Contactless Payments save Riders Time
The MasterCard survey also found that reducing transit travel time is high on U.S. commuters’ wish lists. Today, riders estimate they spend an average of 2.7 hours per work week (32 minutes per day) accessing the mass transit system. Yet, when asked about the benefits of using a Tap & Go form of payment, riders estimated they could shave nearly an hour a week (an average 11 minutes per day) from their commute.
According to the survey, there are a number of payment frustrations that contribute to current, lengthy transit travel times.
  • Nearly one third of commuters (31 percent) say they feel they spend too much time waiting in line to buy or add money to their fare card.
  • Forty-three percent feel the ticketing machines are often slow, out of order or difficult to use.
  • More than a quarter of riders (26 percent) are frustrated by the process they must go through to replace a misplaced fare card.
  • One fifth of commuters (21 percent) have been frustrated by not knowing where or how to pay in unfamiliar mass transit systems
Commuters See Clear Benefits in One, Contactless Way to Pay
Additionally, it is clear that commuters want to consolidate their mass transit tickets into one card that can be used across multiple transit systems.
  • Two-thirds of commuters surveyed (66 percent) travel by more than one mode of mass transit in a typical week and 70 percent have used mass transit in a city other than their own.
  • Nearly as many consider easier transferring between different types of mass transit (64 percent) and easier payments in unfamiliar stations (65 percent) as major benefits to a Tap & Go payment method.
  • More than half of commuters (59 percent) consider reducing lines and accelerating time through transportation centers as major benefits of Tap-&-Go, open-loop payment options.
“Open-loop, contactless payments are ideal for environments, like transit, where speed and convenience are essential,” continued Murchie. “We are working with a number of public transportation agencies across the U.S. and around the globe to improve current ways to pay and riders in many cities, from Chicago to Philadelphia, are already benefiting from the innovation.”
Whether enabled via a mobile phone, card, key fob, or other device, MasterCard PayPass offers commuters a simple, easy and convenient way to pay for their trip. Riders can simply tap their PayPass-enabled MasterCard card, phone or device on a contactless payment accepting reader to make a fare purchase.
For transit agencies, open-loop, contactless payments not only help enhance the customer experience by providing a fast, reliable and convenient payment method, but may help reduce agency operating expenses by making payment collection and back-end operations more efficient.
Survey Methodology
The MasterCard Transit Survey was conducted on behalf of MasterCard by Harris Interactive between November 21 and December 6, 2011 in three countries: United States (n=1607), Singapore (n=503) and South Korea (n=560). The U.S. data was collected among residents of seven U.S. markets: New York City, Washington D.C, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco and Baltimore. All participants were over the age of 18, employed, student or retired, traveled by mass transit at least 3-4 times per week and own at least one credit or debit card. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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