Cisco has unveiled the results of a survey conducted by InsightExpress of 500 information technology decision-makers to uncover and qualify current sentiment on PCI DSS five years after the standard emerged. Surprisingly, respondents think PCI compliance has been more beneficial than not:

• 70% of survey respondents feel that their organization is more secure than it would be if PCI compliance were not required
• Of the survey respondents, 87% believe that the PCI requirements are necessary for protecting cardholder data
• 60% of respondents suggested that PCI-compliance projects can drive other network or network security projects

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• Braintree Launches Card-Not-Present End-to-End Encryption Solution
• First Paid Healthcare Solutions Now Available in Puerto Rico
• MasterCard and Gemalto Partner on Global Card Replacement Services
• First Data Consolidates Operations and Management of its Business

• CUinsight: New Era Begins for NACHA Operating Rules and Guidelines
• NetBanker: Google Launches More Financial Product Comparison Pages: Savings Accounts, Checking, CDs, and Mortgages
• CNNMoney: U.S. Treasury Launches Tax Refund Prepaid Debit Card
• PayPal Blog: PayPal Opens New Customer Support Center in Malaysia
• BAI Banking Strategies: Leveraging ATMs for the ‘Bank of Mom and Dad’

The National Retail Federation (NRF) and First Data have released results from a research study of data security and fraud prevention strategies practiced at small to mid-sized retailers.

An overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) stated they care about keeping their customer card information secure and feel payment card data security is important to their business. But almost two-thirds (64%) believe that their business is not vulnerable to credit/debit card data theft and 60% are unaware of the costs they could incur in the event of a breach.

NetSuite and and CyberSource have announced "completion of a product integration that will enable companies running on NetSuite to gain seamless access to the CyberSource Decision Manager fraud management solution. The result: a completely integrated cloud-based order management process – from web store, to order submission, fraud screening and payments, through to fulfillment and invoicing."

W3i has announced the launch of a new Ad-Funded Payment Platform, providing a robust and customizable solution for developers looking for app discovery or monetization. "The solution works by rewarding users with virtual currency in free iOS games for installing apps from advertisers."

Micronotes has announced the release of KulaMula, one of "the first partner-developed applications for the Yodlee FinApp Store. Available for free, KulaMula connects leading brands with online banking consumers to deliver highly customized offers based on previous purchasing patterns and user input." KulaMula is positioned as a way for banks to generate non-interest revenue and build customer loyalty. A YouTube video explains how KulaMula works.

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• Verifi Partners with Demandware to Provide Risk Management for Online Retailers
• New Aberdeen Report: Retailers Embrace Mobile Point of Sale Systems for Consumer Engagement, Interactivity, and Revenue
• Industry Speakers Highlight MRC's 2011 Annual Conference Agenda
• New Aite Group Report: The Less-Cash Society - Forecasting Cash Usage in the United States

• Reuters: South Korea Promotes Credit Cards with 'Green Credits'

Glenbrook's February and March webinars are now available for registration. Glenbrook webinars are categorized by type - this winter's offerings include:

• "Basics" Webinars: Cards Essentials (Feb 1); The Bill Payment Domain (Feb 22)
• "Landscape" Webinars: Local Country Payments (March 1); Bill to Mobile Payments (March 8)
• "Insight" Webinars: Beyond PCI (Feb 8); eInvoicing and Small Business (Feb 15); Durbin: Second Order Impacts (March 15); Payments Platforms (March 22); Mobile POS Payments – U.S. Market (March 29)

Sage has announced 'Sage Simply Accounting Direct Payments', a "new connected online service that helps small businesses streamline and automate their payment and debit processes while connecting their desktop accounting application to a cloud-based service."

AisleBuyer has announced availability of a white paper that includes usage data from its initial mobile self-checkout deployment with retail partner Magic Beans. Notable findings from the study include:

• More than 15% of smartphone customers chose mobile self-checkout in lieu of the traditional cash register
• During Black Friday weekend alone, more than 42% of smartphone users chose mobile self-checkout instead of using the traditional cash register -- a number that represented 12% of all transactions
• 60% of all customers who used the application to scan a product ultimately made a purchase

Bill.com has announced that "users can now send invoices, collaborate with customers and receive electronic payments through Bill.com’s new beta Receivables feature. Bill.com Receivables supports a full range of accounts receivable processes through its invoice creation tool and QuickBooks integration, enabling users to manage all of their day-to-day financial operations online anywhere an internet connection is available."

Moggle has announced the release of its Virtual Piggy™ technology that allows children to transact with online merchants, games and social networks in a safe environment under parent supervision.

Moggle’s Virtual Piggy provides an online payment profile that allows parents to setup, monitor and control their children’s spending online. Parents and guardians can determine how much the child can spend in a single transaction, or over time and also control the merchants with which the child can transact.

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• New Juniper Research Report on Mobile Money Transfer & Remittances
• GotchaBucks Introduces Instant Virtual Gift Card Mall
• New Mercator Report on EMV in the USA
• Mobifyer Launches Near Field Communication (NFC) Development Kit for Android
• SK C&C USA Achieves Mobile POS Trusted Service Manager (TSM) Certification from MasterCard
• CheckAlt Releases 'Triple Value' Services for Credit Unions

• TechCrunch: Square Raises $27.5M From Sequoia And Khosla, On Track To Process $40M In Q1 Payments
• VentureBeat: KreditFly Launches Mobile Payments System with Credit Guarantees
• BostInnovation: The Future of Payments: 6 Startups Putting Boston on the Map

Two payment-related themes are emerging from NRF conference being held this week in New York: POS encryption/tokenization and mobile payments acceptance. For retailers, end-to-end encryption and tokenization are all about reducing PCI scope:

• Heartland's End-to-End Encryption Solution Reduces PCI Scope by up to 69% for Merchants
• BevMo! Retail Chain Reduces PCI Scope with VeriFone’s VeriShield Protect
• Fifth Third Processing Solutions and MTXEPS Partner to Support ServerEPS Encryption Solutions
• Ingenico and Merchant Link Partner on Point-to-Point Encryption and Tokenization Solution

• VeriFone Announces PAYware Mobile Enterprise Solution and Services for Large Retailers
• GoPayment Gives Small Businesses Free Credit Card Reader and No Monthly Service Fees
• Xsilva Systems Demonstrates that Mobile Point of Sale is Accessible to Retailers of all Sizes

BusinessWeek, and various other media outlets, are reporting that the Obama administration will be creating a new office in the Department of Commerce to oversee the government's implementation of a national online identity ecosystem. A draft proposal entitled the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) was published last June.

Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners:

• SafetyPay Partners With One of Brazil’s Largest Banks, Banrisul

• Portals and Rails: Nonbanks and Payments Innovation: Because That's Where the Money Is
• Ars Technica: The Security Gadget that UK Bankers Want Squelched
• Wall Street Journal: Students Still Targets of Credit-Card Offers
• Today Show: Consumers' Love of Credit Cards to Return
• The Green Sheet: The Convergence of Traditional and Alternative Payments
• SiliconIndia Magazine: Playspan: Leading Innovation in the Global Payment Industry
• Zachs: No Job? No Credit Card