Reuters is reporting on comments made by Visa Europe president and CEO Peter Ayliffe to the effect that any fundamental changes to the current credit card interchange fee structure in Europe (currently under consideration by the European Commission's competition commissioner) could put SEPA at risk.

First Data Corp., Microsoft and HP have announced a small business point of sale solution called First Data POS Value Exchange that "replaces a cash register and traditional point of sale terminal with a computer-based system that delivers a complete store management solution with greater information security, speed of transactions and more flexible payment options for customers."   » Continue Reading

Bend, Oregon-based RocketBux has announced it will be offering its mobile phone-based marketing services through an agreement with lViVOtech. RocketBux provides targeted retail offers and coupons as well as enhanced loyalty programs from merchants to participating mobile phone users and will use ViVOtech’s ViVOplatform as its SMS advertising delivery engine.   » Continue Reading

Ellen Cannon writes for Bankrate.com on the "plastic horizon for 2007" - forecasting that prepaid cards, contactless payments and new card rewards programs will be areas of major change in 2007.

• NOVA Certifies MagTek’s ExcellaTM Check Scanner for Electronic Check Solution offered to Multi-Lane Retailers
• Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Implements NOVA’s Electronic Check Service
• Retailers Recognize ViVOtech as Top Contactless Payment Technology Vendor in Aberdeen Group’s ''Retail Contactless Payment Report"
• i2 Solutions Enable Retailers to Deliver a Multi-Channel Shopping Experience
• eFunds, IBM and Infomax Team with ITMX to Bring Thailand One Step Closer to a Cashless Society
• VeriFone Expands Consumer-Facing MX Solutions Payment Platform