On the web:

• 1-800-Flowers Testing Credit Card-Free Mobile Payments - Mashable
• Fast Identity Online (FIDO) Hunts for Online Password Alternatives - PCMag.com
• Stripe Rival Paymill Reveals $5M More Funding, From Blumberg Capital - TechCrunch
• Bucking the dongle, Buck launches mobile invoicing MobilePaymentsToday.com
• Balanced Launches A Standalone API For Next-Day ACH Payments - TechCrunch
• France Plans To Prohibit Cash Payments Over €1,000 - Forbes
• Isis Releases Utah Mobile Payments Usage Stats - NFC World

On the wires:

• Alliance Data Retail Services Expands Offering to Include Fiserve eBill Distribution
• Thales and Miura Help Reduce the Cost of Mobile Payments (Germany)
• Lack of Local Currency Pricing Suppresses Global eCommerce Sales (Survey)
• ACI Worldwide Arms Financial Institutions to Fight Accelerating Fraud

On the web:

• EMVCo Picks GlobalPlatform Secure Element Compliance Program - NFC World
• Not All Coupons You Buy Online Are Honored By Merchants - MSNBC.com
• Security in the Mobile Wallet: Is It Good Enough Yet? - Portals and Rails
• Facebook Fast-Tracks Its Payments Business - American Banker

On the wires:

• Braintree Develops Mobile Apps Payment Solution
• Microsoft Extends Successful Direct Operator Billing Agreement with MACH
• Irish Mobile Payments Provider boxPAY Opens North America for International Sellers
• Alliance Data Signs Multi-year Private Label Renewal Agreement With Buckle
• CHARGE Anywhere Introduces Spanish Language Mobile Payment App for Android
• New Mercator Report on Global EMV Migration and Adoption
• New Aite Group Report on Small Business Credit Cards

Heartland Payment Systems has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Network Services business of Alliance Data Systems Corporation. 'According to the most recent Nilson report, Alliance Data’s Network Services is one of the industry’s 20 largest payment processors, handling over $17 billion of total annual bank card volume and 604 million transactions in 2007.' READ MORE »

Late today, Alliance Data Systems announced that it has terminated the May 17, 2007 merger agreement providing for the acquisition of Alliance Data by affiliates of The Blackstone Group. READ MORE »

Alliance Data Systems has announced signing "a multi-year agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. to provide payment processing services to more than 5,500 7-Eleven-branded convenience stores nationwide. Headquartered in Dallas, 7-Eleven is the largest chain of retail convenience stores, operating, franchising or licensing more than 33,200 stores in 17 countries and one U.S. territory, with worldwide sales
in 2006 exceeding $44 billion."

Alliance Data Systems Corporation has announced that it has "entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P., an affiliate of The Blackstone Group, in a transaction valued at approximately $7.8 billion, including the assumption of certain debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Alliance Data for $81.75 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 30 percent over Alliance Data's closing share price of $62.96 on May 16, 2007."

Alliance Data has filed an updated investor presentation with the SEC that emphasizes the growth focus on its loyalty businesses.

Marilyn Munch of the Investors Business Daily reports on the holiday mood at Alliance Data Systems.

Alliance Data Systems Corporation has announced that it has modified its market-facing name, dropping the word "systems" and will now be known as Alliance Data. A new logo accompanies this change.

Jesse Eisinger reports for the Wall St. Journal on how Alliance Data Systems financially reports the transaction processing vs. credit portions of its business.

Alliance Data Systems has announced that it is acquiring Epsilon Data Management, a provider of integrated direct marketing solutions that combine value-added marketing, transaction, technology and analytical services.

Alliance Data Systems has announced plans for a secondary offering. The S-3 filed by ADS with the SEC is available online.