In a lament about the state of online authentication for both payments and banking, Dave Birch writes: "How pathetic is it that when I want to buy something on the Internet using my bank card I have to mess around typing in endless details, numbers, codes, passwords and the like. It's all so 1994." Indeed!

Francine Kizner writes for Entrepreneur.com about alternative payments providers Bill Me Later, eBillMe, Revolution Money, and Bill-to-Phone. "Alternative payment companies entice buyers who may not have credit cards, feel wary about sharing their information online or just want an easier checkout experience."

Chase Paymentech Solutions has launched a new website designed to help small and medium sized businesses affordably accept credit card payments.

In an post titled "Scanning Your Money to the Bank", Saul Hansell of the New York Times comments on Fiserv's announcement earlier this week of remote deposits from home using scanners.

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