mFoundry has announced the release of its mobile banking product saying it "provides financial institutions with the most flexible and comprehensive mobile banking solution in the industry, effectively setting the stage for mainstream adoption of mobile banking solutions in the coming year."

Auriemma Consulting Group has announced the results of some recent research that concludes that "whether naming the best or worst credit card in their wallet, consumers call it by the network―Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover―rather than the bank brand. Consumers tend to more readily identify network brand even though networks do not control card features, pricing or service."

The San Francisco area Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) has announced it will begin selling its Fastrak electronic toll transponders in local Costco's and Safeway's. As part of this retail distribution roll-out, BATA has partnered with American Express who is offering $3 to $5 in free tolls to buyers who link their American Express cards to their Fastrak transponders.

[Update: See this article for more information about Visa's Mobile Platform initiative.]

Visa has announced the launch of a mobile platform that Visa says "lays the foundation for the commercial availability of mobile payments and services to millions of mobile users around the world. The new platform is designed to foster collaboration between the financial services and mobile telecommunications sectors for the delivery of mobile payment applications and payment related services."

MasterCard Worldwide and Spartan Stores have announced that "all retail banners operated by Spartan Stores in Michigan and northwest Ohio under the Family Fare, D&W, Glen’s, Pharm and Quick Stop banners will accept MasterCard PayPass, an innovative, contactless, and rapid payment option. Spartan Stores is a leading regional grocery retail and wholesale operator with more than 87 retail stores located in Michigan and northwest Ohio."

BioPassword has announced it has secured $11 million in Series C financing from new investor RRE Ventures and existing investors including Citrix Systems, Ignition Partners and OVP Venture Partners.

SVPCO-Electronic Clearing Services has reported that the number of check images exchanged in 2006 soared 15-fold compared to 2005, while the dollar value jumped 5-fold year-over-year.

INSIDE Contactless has unveiled its consumer electronics vision for contactless technology in the NFC Forum at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Clement James reports for vnunet.com that "researchers at Cambridge University claimed last week that a flaw in the system could lead to consumers being duped by fake machines" and describes the response by APACS to the news. Jaikumar Vijayan covers the story for Computerworld. Dave Birch shares his opinion about this "threat" on the Digital Money Blog. The basic issues is that chip cards, when they also contain the mag stripe, can be skimmed and, in the right environment, the consumer's PIN can also be captured and then used to perpetrate fraud at a non-chip reading POS or ATM location (for example, in Spain or the US or many other countries).

Wachovia has announced Wachovia Security Plus, "a new enhanced suite of security measures, to toughen Wachovia's already-strong security measures in the fight against online theft and fraud."

Saleem Khan reports for Canada's CBC News from the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in in Las Vegas that "Visa is launching a global payment system that would let people pay for goods through their cellphones."

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Joseph Radest has been named senior vice president, financial institutions channels, for Moneris Solutions.

• Online Resources Announces Alliance with Intelligent Results
• Acxiom Extends Retail Solutions with Acquisition of Equitec
• Debt Resolve to Launch Campaign in the UK/Europe
• Bank of America Locations Nationwide Available via Tele Atlas Digital Maps
• Utix and Carlson Marketing Worldwide Sign Preferred Supplier Agreement