Mercator Advisory Group has published a new report titled "Sizing Canada's Growing Card Market" that presents an overview of the current state of the Canadian payment card market, an analysis of recent market trends and metrics, a discussion of EMV compliance, and a review of contactless payment and new products and reward programs.

JPMorgan Chase has announced a new report titled “Controlling and Cutting Travel & Entertainment Costs” that examines how "some of the nation’s leading companies share cost- and time-saving steps that they have taken to maximize their travel program and help minimize the impact of rising business travel costs."

Aite Group has published a new report titled "Prepaid Cards: The State of the Industry" saying that it "expects the value of branded and private label prepaid card transactions to amount to US$178 billion by 2010, up from US$113 billion in 2007."

The Smart Card Alliance has published a white paper (PDF) and accompanying presentation (PDF) on merchant implementation of contactless payments. "This guide assists any merchant who is considering deployment of contactless payments. Merchants can use the information in this guide to decide whether contactless payment is right for them and to plan for, implement, and roll out contactless payments successfully."

Aneace Haddad blogs about his company's mobile payment solution using NFC - and includes a video demonstrating how it works. "Rather than simply doing a basic, boring payment transaction, the demo shows the payment terminal also delivering a targeted promotion to the customer, based on criteria set by the merchant. Enter the amount on the POS terminal, tap the phone and the payment receipt is printed, which now includes an offer that says “Buy one value meal, get a free dessert”."

• Fiserv Business Unit, Personix, Selected to Provide Edge-to-Edge Photo Capabilities for PAYjr® Cards
• BB&T introduces new electronic check conversion services
• CheckFree Improves Check Image Processing Efficiency by Combining Check Capture and ACH Processing Capabilities
• Forex Bank and MobiClear Offer Enhanced Security for Card Transactions
• Smart Card Alliance Sees Fed's Easing of Regulation E Receipt Requirements as a Boon for Contactless Payments in the U.S.
• USA Today: Visa prepares to meet the public
• TransUnion and Edgar, Dunn & Company Launch Payment Preference Model(SM) to Help Financial Institutions Offer Customers More Relevant Payment Products

We have received news of the following recent management changes:

• Russell J. Prettitore has been named vice president of sales at Saylent Technologies. He was previously vice president, debit product sales at MasterCard International.
• Rob Sabella has been named mBanking Director and Jon Squire has been named Vice President of Payments at Sausalito, California-based mFoundry.
• Gail A. Galuppo has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Western Union.