Arcot Systems has announced extension of the Verified by Visa secure online shopping program to mobile phone transactions conforming to the latest Visa dynamic passcode authentication specifications. The first implementation is being piloted in Russia and Europe with Visa member banks, mobile operators, and technology providers.

READ MORE »

Earlier today, we posted an item on the beta launch of a new text-based mobile payment service called TextPayMe.

Glenbrook's Russ Jones has taken a quick look at this new service and provides some initial comments on what he sees.

READ MORE »

Lenovo has announced that it is on the verge of selling its 1,000,000th ThinkPad notebook equipped with an integrated biometric fingerprint reader.

"Security is critical to our customers, and they rely on Lenovo to deliver innovative, cutting-edge PC solutions," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo.

READ MORE »

Earlier this month, TextPayMe announced a new text messaging-based service for sending money using mobile phones. The company says it supports deposits from electronic bank transfers or credit cards and supports withdrawals via wire transfer or mailed checks.

READ MORE »

TSYS has announced the purchase of an initial 34 percent equity interest in China UnionPay Data Co., Ltd. ("CUP Data"), the payments-processing subsidiary of China UnionPay Co., Ltd. ("CUP"). TSYS will increase its stake to 45 percent, pending final regulatory approval in early 2006. READ MORE »

SmartPay and Pudong Development Bank have announced a partnership that will enable Pudong Development Bank customers throughout China to utilize SmartPay's mobile payment services.

READ MORE »

First Data Corp. has announced the results of a survey of the gift card market in Canada commissioned by First Data Prepaid Services' ValueLink unit. The survey of 1,015 Canadian adults aged 18 or older revealed nearly universal awareness of gift cards (91%) with well over half, 55 percent, of adult Canadian consumers indicating they had purchased and/or received a gift card in the previous 12 months.

READ MORE »

Earthlink has announced that it is acquiring New Edge Networks for approximately $144 million, consisting of 2.6 million shares of EarthLink common stock and $114.3 million in cash, including cash to be used to satisfy certain liabilities. New Edge Networks has recently announced a series of interconnection arrangements with major payment processors.

READ MORE »

Note: Throughout the day, as Payments News happens, this post is updated.

• Pay By Touch Closes in on 'Biometric Proxy' for PIN in Debit Payments
• Taiwan: Credit-card market slows on 107% attrition rate: Visa

READ MORE »