On the web:

• Free Checking Isn t Cheap for Banks - American Banker
• Microsoft Clarifies Windows Mobile NFC Support - SlashGear
• Over 1M Merchants Now Use Square To Accept Credit Cards - TechCrunch

On the wires:

• Kabbage Closes on $12 Million Debt Facility from Western Technology Investment
• New TapBuy Technology Simplifying Checkout for Shoppers on Mobile Phones
• ROAM Data Launches Secure Mobile Card Reader with Extensive Device Coverage
• Sage ISV Program Gives Developers Access to an Integrated PCI Compliant Payments Environment
• FrontStream Payments Announces New C‐Round Investment Funding
• Computop (PayGate) Enters into Agreement with arvato Systems
• Red Robin Selects Transaction Wireless for Personalized Gift Cards
• New Juniper Research Report on Mobile Remittances

ImageSpan and arvato finance services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of arvato AG, a Bertelsmann company, have announced a platform collaboration to deliver a global clearinghouse that "unifies, drives and accelerates the trade of digital content, including video, images, audio and text. The new global content clearinghouse combines ImageSpan’s automated content licensing, publishing and tracking platform, called LicenseStream, with arvato finance’s PaymentLounge, premium merchant services consisting of global billing, accounting and payment components." READ MORE »