Mobile Payment Magazine

NFC Insert for Mobile Payment Introduced by On Track Innovations

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On Track Innovations has introduced their new mobile payment system which enables existing mobile phones to support Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality and contactless payments.

The company’s Contactless Payment and NFC Insert (COPNI)  is an add-on to mobile phones’ SIM cards with a flexible antenna. The mobile payment system is independent of the handset type and model, and lets users have one device that is both a mobile phone and a mobile wallet. It is compatible with carriers’ current infrastructure. Mobile phones equipped with COPNI can be used in a broad range of payment applications simply by tapping the phone near a contactless reader. Payments are automatically confirmed and deducted from consumers’ bank accounts, credit cards or pre-paid accounts.

“OTI’s new mobile payment system will allow consumers to easily add NFC functionality to their current mobile phone,” said Oded Bashan, chairman and CEO, OTI. “Our patented technology provides mobile operators and financial institutions/issuers with a quick-to-market NFC solution using the existing infrastructure. It offers them a way to get into the mobile payment market while expanding their customer base and generating increased revenues.”

COPNI supports existing contactless payment applications from major card associations, mass transit ticketing (with MIFARE support) as well as loyalty programs and other proprietary programs. According to the company, potential applications include:

  • Mass transit ticketing – instead of presenting cash or swiping a card at the turnstile, consumers just tap their phone near a contactless reader to proceed through the turnstile
  • Information retrieval – gives consumers the ability to view the current balance of their mobile wallet, and also allows their mobile handsets to receive and instantly download information from their surroundings (retail store, museum, etc.)
  • E-coupons – coupons downloaded to their wireless phone can be redeemed in retail stores at checkout

Source: GlobeNewsWire

DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay Announced as Visa’s First Official Contactless Payment Solution – and It’s MicroSD

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DeviceFidelity In2Pay

Photo from DeviceFidelity

Following in the buzz from the recent Isis initiative announcement, Visa has announced the availability of mobile contactless payments enabled by DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay microSD solution.

In2Pay is the first mobile contactless payment solution included in the list of Visa compliant products available for potential commercial deployment by financial institutions in the U.S. and select markets. There are approximately 5 billion mobile handsets in market around the globe, and according to IDC3, smart phone shipments globally are expected to increase 24% in 2011, helping drive continued growth in more robust and powerful mobile devices that are capable of supporting contactless payment. [Read more…]

Hypercom M5000 Mobile Payment Terminal Announced

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Hypercom’s new M5000 mobile payment terminal is a  hand mobile payment system with a 3.5” color icon-capable touchscreen. The device offers cutting edge mobility, communications and connectivity options available and an integrated contactless reader let merchants accept any type of card payment.  The device is initially supporting GPRS and Bluetooth connectivity.

The mobile payment system is powered by a 266 MHz standard, 400 MHz optional processor, and includes up to 500MB of memory. The processor combined with a touch screen can drive a wide variety of payment or non-payment applications, such as icon-based integration with inventory management or menu ordering systems, and the M5000 includes a software development toolkit for development efficiency and applications portability across the entire Hypercom next generation portfolio.

“Merchants demand payment products that not only expedite the secure transmission of vital transaction data, but also serve as a platform to deliver value-added services to customers, independent of location,” said William Rossiter, Vice President, Global Marketing, Hypercom Corporation. “With our M5000 mobile payment system, we introduce the second in a series of products that run on our next generation platform, include our industry-leading security, deliver the latest features and technology for the lowest total cost of ownership, and thus will enable merchants to deliver new services to their customers today, and well into the future.”

The new M5000 delivers the same unprecedented levels of security as the company’s revolutionary L5000 multilane payment system. It is designed to meet current and future PCI PTS, EMV, ZKA, APACS, JTMS and other global and country-specific security requirements, and features the payment industry’s widest array of high security data encryption technologies. Unlike competitor products, Hypercom’s full X509 Public Key Infrastructure HyperSafe® security layer is also directly embedded in these terminals to protect them and their applications from hacking and malware attacks. All systems also incorporate Hypercom’s HyperSafe Remote Key System for quick and secure payment terminal key injection at the merchant’s location.

Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) today introduced the M5000 mobile payment terminal, the next generation multipurpose mobile payment system whose futureproof features will protect the investments of a broad spectrum of merchants worldwide, from hotels and restaurants to taxis and delivery companies.

“By bringing to market futureproof systems like the L5000 and M5000, we safeguard our customers’ investments in the fast changing world of payment acceptance and open the door for customers to generate revenue with value-added services, even without payment. Merchants demand payment products that not only expedite the secure transmission of vital transaction data, but also serve as a platform to deliver value-added services to customers, independent of location,” said William Rossiter, Vice President, Global Marketing, Hypercom Corporation. “With our M5000 mobile payment system, we introduce the second in a series of products that run on our next generation platform, include our industry-leading security, deliver the latest features and technology for the lowest total cost of ownership, and thus will enable merchants to deliver new services to their customers today, and well into the future.”

The new M5000 is designed to meet current and future PCI PTS, EMV, ZKA, APACS, JTMS and other global and country-specific security requirements, and features the payment industry’s widest array of high security data encryption technologies. Hypercom’s full X509 Public Key Infrastructure HyperSafe security layer is also directly embedded in these terminals to protect them and their applications from hacking and malware attacks. All systems also incorporate Hypercom’s HyperSafe Remote Key System for quick and secure payment terminal key injection at the merchant’s location.

Source: Business Wire

Webinar: U.S. Mobile Payments, The Time Has Come (Dec 16, 2010)

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Mobile payments will account for $214 billion by 2015, up from $16 billion in 2010, according to Aite Group, a research and advisory firm for the financial services industry. The company has conducted extensive interviews with industry stakeholders, and will present its findings: U.S. Mobile Payments: The Time Has Come.  During the presentation, research director Gwenn Bézard will define and segment the landscape of markets, trends, technologies and players in the mobile payment industry in the United States over the next four years.

Date: December 16, 2010, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST

Cost: Free to Aite Group’s Retail Banking subscribers and clients that purchased the research report, “U.S. Mobile Payments: The Time Has Come.” $250 for non-clients

More information: Aite Group

Trilogy’s Voila and Unibank Announce Launch of Haiti’s First Mobile Money Service

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Haitian wireless operator Voila, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Trilogy International Partners, and UNIBANK, Haiti’s premier bank, have launched T-Cash, Haiti’s first mobile money solution. In Haiti, hundreds of thousands of the country’s ‘unbanked’ population and Haitians in regions unreached by traditional financial service providers will now have access to a full suite of banking and m-commerce services through their Voila mobile phone.

By leveraging UNIBANK’s nationwide network of merchants and tapping into Voila’s base of over 1 million subscribers, this partnership creates a valuable financial ecosystem with the potential to impact millions of Haitians throughout the country. In partnership with applications service provider MoreMagic, Voila and UNIBANK have delivered their mobile payment solutions in a secure, hosted, and fully managed environment.

“We’re very excited to bring the latest in mobile technology to Haiti where the acute needs of the Haitian people require fast action and mobility,” said Brad Horwitz, President& CEO of Trilogy International Partners. “Voila has been operating in Haiti for over a decade, and is well positioned to bring and expand its mobile money service to the entire Haitian population safely, securely and efficiently.”

Whereas there are very few bank branches per capita; over 85% of Haitian households have access to a mobile phone. With T-Cash, Voila subscribers throughout Haiti now have the ability to complete domestic peer-to-peer money transfers, bill pay, payroll services, and expanded mobile commerce capabilities. An initial and unique feature of the T-Cash service will be a ‘mini wallet.’ The mini wallet allows Voila subscribers to immediately activate the T-Cash service and store up to 2500HTG ($62.50 USD) by entering *700# on their Voila mobile phone. This easy to use, mini wallet feature will allow for rapid, widespread adoption and access nationwide. Voila and UNIBANK are gearing up to establish over a thousand affiliated merchants and cash in/cash out locations throughout the country by January, 2011.

“UNIBANK is proud to participate with its technological partner, Voila, in the launch of the first electronic wallet service in Haiti,” said F. Carl Braun, Chairman of UNIBANK. “In doing so, UNIBANK perpetuates its tradition of technological leadership in the financial sector. The T-Cash service will be critical for the extension of banking services beyond traditional branches and the inclusion of the non-banked population particularly in rural areas. With the electronic wallet, financial services will be instantly available throughout the country,” Braun said.

The wide-scale commercial launch of T-Cash comes after an extensive nine month pilot program with global relief and development agency Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps’ pioneering efforts to use T-Cash in their humanitarian cash programs opened the door for Haiti’s rural poor and micro-businesses to gain access to financial services. The program provided an opportunity to test the new service, gauge user reactions, and incorporate feedback into training procedures and future service offerings. Customers’ response to T-Cash has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, showing that Haitians are ready to embrace mobile money as a safe and reliable option to meet their transactional needs.

Voila has already been instrumental in providing local and international communications service to over one million Haitian customers, thousands of relief workers, a variety of international NGOs, and U.S. government agencies working in Haiti. Since the earthquake struck, wireless has been at the center of first responders’ efforts to identify and rescue survivors, spread critical information on vaccinations and food distributions, and provide health services.

UNIBANK has been actively involved in providing critical payment solutions for numerous NGOs enabling them to stimulate the economy through job creation programs, and provide lifelines to hundreds of thousands left destitute by the earthquake. The bank’s ability to open its doors to the public shortly after the events of January 12th was key to maintaining confidence in the banking system and provided the peace of mind its many clients needed to start the rebuilding process.

Source: PR-USA.net

Montise Joins with Software Developer ViVOtech for Mobile Phone Payment Solutions for Banks

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NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 - contactless transaction. Image from ViVOtech.

Monitise, a provider of mobile money solutions, has joined forces with near field communication (NFC) software developer ViVOtech, to deliver mobile phone payments services to banks across the United States. The partnership means customers of participating banks will be able to turn their handset into a mobile wallet (linked to registered bank accounts, credit and debit cards) and purchase items using contactless payments at merchants with NFC capabilities.

In addition to contactless payments, service users will be able to transfer money from their registered accounts to other bank accounts, perhaps in response to an overdraft alert or to friends and family. The service will also deliver retail coupons and discounts directly to the user on their mobile phone. [Read more…]

ParkMobile Announces Mobile Payment for Parking in Richmond, VA

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Parkmobile USA has announced mobile parking payment in Richmond, Virginia–drivers can use mobile phones to pay for parking.

After setting up the account at the ParkMobile website, customers can immediately start using the system with their registered mobile phone. Motorists can also select the option to receive text message alerts and reminders fifteen minutes before their time expires.

“CityParking Inc. is leveraging the cloud computing environment to enhance the way parking is managed. We are proving how the technologies that have been rapidly deployed in recent months down to the personal level can be incorporated into the parking experience and improve pricing and access to parking at the consumer level,” said Gloria K. Sharrar, principal owner and former Senior Vice President of Technology and Operations at Bank of America. “This is a game-changer for Richmond’s downtown parking. We are the first parking operator in Virginia to offer the pay by phone service for our parking lots.”

“Parkmobile is very excited to launch our pay by phone parking service in collaboration with CityParking. Pay by phone offers customers a new and better way to pay for parking. Parkmobile users have 24/7 access to their online account; they can print reports and easily track their parking expenses. It’s much faster and more convenient”, noted Albert Bogaard, CEO of Parkmobile.

The program will be offered at designated CityParking locations in Richmond.

More information: ParkMobile.com

Comviva Technologies

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Comviva is the global leader in providing mobile solutions beyond VAS. With an extensive portfolio of solutions spanning VAS infrastructure, application delivery platforms and customer-facing applications, Comviva enables mobile service providers to enrich mobile users’ lives, whilst rationalizing costs, accelerating revenue growth and enhancing customer lifetime value. Comviva’s solutions are deployed by service providers in over 85 countries and power services to more than 650 million mobile subscribers globally.

More Information: Comviva Technologies.

Campus Apartments Student Tenants Can Pay Rent Via Mobile

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Campus Apartments allows its tenants to pay rent and make service requests via mobile phone.

The College-aged market are native mobile phone users, and with a familiarity and comfort level with interacting via mobile phone, the demographic is perfect for mobile payment applications.

Student housing company Campus Apartments has released an application for Android and iPhone called SmartClick Mobile. The app lets tenants make rent payments via their mobile devices, as well as service requests. SmartClick Mobile is a free application that is an extension to the company’s SmartClick web portal.

Andrew Marshall, Chief Information Officer of Campus Apartments said, “We recognize that residents of student housing demand the most advanced technology amenities, and our goal is to exceed our residents’ expectations.”

Because of the company’s customer demographic, Campus Apartments has been on the forefront in the rental market of offering connectivity and mobile services to its customers. In recent months, Campus Apartments announced the availability of the first 100 megabit per resident Internet service for the student housing market as well as the first to accept mobile text payments from residents.

More information: Campus Apartments

SmartClick Mobile
(http://smartclick.campusapts.com), a free application that is an extension to Campus Apartments’ highly
successful SmartClick web portal, allowing residents to easily pay rent and submit service requests from the
convenience of an iPhone or Android mobile phone in addition to being accessible from any web browser. This
first mobile application in the student housing industry was officially made available to residents on November
17 and has already secured early adopters.
Campus Apartments sought to develop an application that would support its current residents with practical
features such as automated monthly rent, payments via credit card and even
maintenance requests. In developing the application, it was most important to
Campus Apartments to offer residents the benefits of function and convenience
rather than a static application that supported prospective residents.
Andrew Marshall, Chief Information Officer of Campus Apartments said, “We
recognize that residents of student housing demand the most advanced
technology amenities, and our goal is to exceed our residents’ expectations.”
Campus Apartments may have pioneered the first student housing application, but
it also answered residents’ need for a convenient, around‐the‐clock customer
service tool. “Our residents can continue texting, gaming and shopping without
ever stopping to service their needs because our application allows them to do so
from the palm of their hand,” added Marshall.
Campus Apartments affirms that the application is just part of its promise to
provide superior technology capabilities. In recent months, Campus Apartments
announced the availability of the first 100 megabit per resident Internet service for
the student housing market as well as the first to accept mobile text payments from residents.

Samsung Announces New NFC Chip with Flash Memory

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Samsung has announced a new NFC chip with flash memory, adding to the momentum around Near Field Communication (NFC) technology that will enable point-of-sale payments via mobile phone.

NFC is a short-range (up to 10cm or 4inches), high frequency wireless communication technology which allows devices such as smart phones to collect or transmit data to another NFC-enabled device without manual configuration to identify devices. In addition, NFC chip can play a role as a contactless smartcard in use for public transportation payments for bus and subway fares and mobile banking payments. It can also read RFID tags in retail stores or on outdoor billboards for convenient on-the-spot data access.

The announcement comes at about the same time as Google announced the Samsung-made Nexus S — the first phone to use the new Android OS called Gingerbread. The camera comes with built-in NFC technology, as well as a front and rear-facing camera to enable video conferencing.

“NFC is recognized throughout the industry as an easy and effective way to transmit encrypted information between mobile devices or between mobile devices and other stationary NFC-enabled devices such as kiosks,” said Tae-Hoon Kim, vice president of DDI and C&M marketing, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. “As momentum builds for adoption of NFC technology in next-generation/ upcoming smart phones, we look forward to securing a competitive footing in NFC-based solutions with our new NFC technology, offering powerful mobile characteristics such as low power design and advanced RF sensitivity.”

The Samsung NFC chip will be ready for mass production in Q1 2011.

Samsung is well established in releasing Android smartphones, and with Android smartphones now holding a 23% market share, Samsung seems well positioned to ride the wave toward NFC mobile payments.