HSBC Credit Card Services has announced it has launched a mobile phone payments pilot based on Near Field Communications technology in partnership with MasterCard and ViVOtech.

Javelin Strategy & Research has released its 2007 Identity Fraud Survey Report, saying it provides "compelling new information about the reduction of identity fraud across the United States, while also identifying important risk differentiators between age and income demographics." According to the report, identity fraud has declined by about 12 percent over the previous year - that translates into a total fraud reduction of $6.4 billion according to Javelin. The survey is co-sponsored by CheckFree, Visa and Wells Fargo & Company.

Diversinet has announced its MobiSecure Wallet and Vault, designed to "give banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, and health care providers a unique and easy-to-use solution they can use to provide individuals with fast, convenient and secure access to new applications and services via mobile phone, PDA or PC browser."

Medical banking sounds like a bit of an oxymoron - but it's being using by the Medical Banking Project to describe "the convergence of banking and healthcare to dramatically reduce healthcare costs." The Project has announced its 5th National Medical Banking Institute to be held March 5-7, 2007 in Marietta, GA.

Google announced quarterly financial results yesterday and included in its conference call discussing the results were some interesting comments about Google Checkout - including the news that more than 20% of the Web's top 500 retailers have signed up for Google Checkout.

• ActiveCore Makes Aggressive Move Into the Electronic Payment Industry
• Retalix and Postilion Announce Alliance to Deliver Integrated POS and Payment Switch for Travel Centers and Convenience Stores
• CRYPTOCard Launches AuthEngine, a Two-Factor Authentication SDK That is Used to Build Token Management and Authentication Services into Any Application or Networking Environment