VeriFone and Bling Nation are partnering to support an introductory mobile payments program in Palo Alto, Calif. featuring VeriFone’s payment solutions and Bling Nation’s BlingTags. The new program enables consumers the ability to simply tap-and-pay for purchases using a BlingTag at the physical point-of-sale systems with contactless technology. The solution enables customers to purchase goods […]

According to MasterCard, wide adoption of contactless mobile payments in the U.S. is still “a couple of years” away, reports Reuters. Despite fervent recent activity from major U.S. banks, mobile phone companies and card processing networks, including MasterCard, Visa and Discover, barriers still remain keeping the technology from achieving wide use. According to Robert Reeg, […]

The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), which operates a 14-mile commuter train line between Center City and Lindenwold, NJ, may adopt an open fare payment system enabling commuters to pay for rides with contactless bank cards, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Upgraded readers from Cubic Corp could be installed at PATCO stations as early as […]

Spanish telecom Telefonica is predicting that London will be the first European city to offer a mass market, NFC-enabled mobile payment system, according to mobileeurope.co.uk. Pablo Montesano, Telefonica’s Director of Mobile Financial Services, cited London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics as the main driving factor behind the city’s predicted push for NFC. Additionally, says Montesano, […]

Global payments processor First Data is partnering with Korea’s SK C&C, makers of SK Telecom’s contactless mobile payment service, to offer a complete set of new turnkey mobile payment services to US banks, according to nearfieldcommunicationsworld.com. Starting Q1, 2011, First Data’s American financial institutions and merchant customers will be able to use to a host […]

Finland’s S-Group supermarket chain hase announced plans to adopt contactless chip and PIN payment technology by the end of the year, according to squidcard.com. In response, S-Group’s competitors Kesko and Suomen Lahikauppa have also announced their own roll out of smart card-supporting terminals in stores next year. As of now, only half of terminals in […]

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is unveiling its contactless CharmCard for public transit fare payment this week, according to wjz.com. The new system allows customers to load cash or credit onto their CharmCards to pay for rides on MTA-operated Metro trains, light rail and buses. The new CharmCard is also compatible with Washington D.C.’s smart […]

VASCO Data Security International has launched a new, retooled version of its DIGIPASS 83 smart card reader. DIGIPASS 83, which combines smart card reader functions such as one-time password (OTP) and electronic signature with EMV-CAP and Advanced Authentication for chip compliance, now features replaceable batteries, a 25% larger display and an improved user-interface. According to […]

South Africa’s Absa Bank has begun issuing MasterCard’s contactless PayPass payment cards, according to sowetanlive.co.za. Absa, which is owned by Barclays, conducted a successful 18-month pilot of the technology before officially rolling out the new prepaid cards. Designed for everyday low-value purchases, the cards can hold a balance of up to R1500 (about $210), and […]

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has released a short list of 11 firms vying for the contract to the city’s proposed open fare public transit payment system, according to The Globe and Mail. Chief among the the candidates are Visa Canada, South Korea’s LG, a Xerox subsidiary and San Diego’s Cubic Transportation Systems, which is […]