Tempo announced a new decoupled debit strategy called Tempo Debit about two months ago. We recently asked Tempo Payments CEO Mike Grossman for an update on his company's activities since that announcement. Our Q&A exchange with him follows.

Saying that he saw a "state of disequilibrium when it comes to consumer protection for credit cards", Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan said today that "consumers should be given the opportunity to “opt out” of certain credit card rate increases and be given the alternative of paying off the card balance at the old rate."

Google has announced Google Checkout for Non-Profits - saying "with this launch, U.S. non-profit organizations (IRS-certified 501(c)(3)s) now have an easy way to accept online donations, and donors have a fast and secure way to support their favorite groups. The best part: it's completely free for the organizations. Through at least the end of 2008, non-profits will pay 0% + 0 cents in transaction fees for each donation they accept through Checkout." More details here.

Wachovia has announced expansion of its treasury solutions for the healthcare industry with the addition of PatientPOS, calling it "an innovative solution proven to improve revenue cycle management for healthcare providers."

Monitise has announced its current global product suite for 2008 - saying that its "new range of services have been developed by Monitise on the basis of the requirements of its key partners and its view of the expanding demands of the consumer in this rapidly developing market space."

Joanna Pachner writes for Canada's Globe and Mail about contactless payments - saying that "perhaps the real breakthrough will happen with the next generation of contactless technology, already growing fast in Asia: mobile commerce, employing a new generation of cellphones equipped with near-field communication (NFC) chips."

BidPay has announced that online sellers and third party developers can now integrate BidPay as a payment option on their checkout pages allowing sellers to use BidPay as an alternative payment service across all online marketplaces from auctions to traditional Web stores.

• Shell Platinum MasterCard Will Offer New Cardholders More Savings Through Everyday Purchases
• NCR Offers New Energy-Efficient Dual-Core Technology for ATMs and Point-of-Sale Solutions
• First Horizon Msaver and TSYS Team Up
• American Express Announces New Travel Program for Gold Card Members that Provides Access to Exclusive Amenities, Value and Experiences
• Alliance Data's Loyalty Business Expands Relationship With Canada's Leading Home Improvement Retailer and Distributor