Over on Payments Views, Glenbrook's Scott Loftesness blogs about the new FIS approach to mobile payments:

With much of the card payments industry zigging toward an NFC-based solution securing payment card credentials on mobile handsets, FIS is zagging in a different direction with this new solution – one that doesn’t need to wait for NFC and Secure Element (SE) chips to be embedded in mobile phones.

FIS is the world’s largest global provider of banking and payments technologies, serving 14,000 financial institutions in over 100 countries.

FIS, "the world’s largest provider of banking and payments technology", has announced an innovative mobile payments solution that allows consumers to use most smartphones to make purchases at the point-of-sale (POS) and for online shopping.

This cloud-based payment solution is adaptable and secure, requiring only downloadable applications for both consumers and retailers. Importantly, the mobile payments solution can be built into retailers’ and financial institutions’ existing mobile applications, preserving brand equity and strengthening customer loyalty.

On the web:

• Trouble brewing for Google Wallet - MobilePaymentsToday.com

On the wires:

• Xsolla Partners With SafetyPay to Monetize Online Gaming and Social Networking Platforms
• INSIDE Secure Opens Door to HID Global iCLASS Credentials on NFC-Enabled Smartphones
• ModusLink Strengthens Its Global E-Business Payment Solution
• CoreFirst Bank & Trust Deploys FIS’ Card Processing Services
• Visa Teams With The .ME Directory to Introduce www.v.me

On the web:

• Mobile Wallets, Contactless Payments Overhyped Say Analysts - American Banker
• Human Kiosks: Serving Customers Through Virtual Engagement - Point of Sale News
• Richard Branson Invests in Square Mobile Payments - Digital Trends
• State of EMV in US - Bank Systems & Technology

On the wires:

• Tabbedout Continues Expansion; Brings Mobile Payment to Seattle
• People’s United Bank Expands Its Relationship with FIS’ Mobile Financial Services
• MasterCard Reports Strong Third Quarter Growth in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa Region
• CenPOS Launches Mobile Payment App for Smartphones via Android Market

On the web:

• Visa Europe Takes 8.8% Stake In Monitise - WSJ.com
• Cash, Check, or Charge: Paying for Illegal Activities - Portals and Rails
• Kenya's mobile money service M-Pesa now processes more transactions that Western Union all around the world - IntoMobile

On the wires:

• Fifth Third Bank Selects FIS for Online Bill Payment
• First Data Selects VeriFone for Caribbean POS Product Offering
• Western Union Business Solutions to Introduce Electronic Wallet for Small Businesses; Bringing Simplicity to Global B2B Payments
• Leading Payday Lender QC Holdings, Inc. Makes the Switch to MoneyGram

On the web:

• Cashless Future: Vocalink Demos Mobile Payment Gateway in UK - Computer Weekly
• Dwolla Adds Support For LinkedIn, Allowing You To Send Money To Your Professional Contacts - TechCrunch
• Ryanair Introduces 'free' Cash Passport - This is Money (UK)

On the wires:

• PCI Security Standards Council Publishes Point-to-Point Encryption Validation Requirements
• New Aite Group Report on Impact of 1099-K Regulation on U.S. Merchant Acquiring
• Marquette Bank Selects FIS’ ePayment and eBanking Solutions to Lead eBusiness Channel
• New Mercator Report on Micropayments and Small Ticket Transactions
• Shift4 Integrates with Zen Cart for Online Payments

On the wires:

• TSYS Expands Merchant Acquiring Presence With Acquisition of TermNet
• FIS Begins Processing New ELO Cards in Brazil
• Bill.com Rolls Out Official Integration with Sage Peachtree Software

On the web:

• FierceMobileContent: PayPal expects to process $2 billion in mobile payments in 2011
• TechCrunch: Jack Dorsey Shares Some Square Numbers
• Mashable: ING Direct Customers Can Now Pay Friends By Bumping Smartphones
• Wall Street Journal (SmartMoney):New Rules of the Credit Card Game
• Collections & Credit Risk: Discover To Pay Cardholders Referral Fee In Social-Media Push
• CRIENGLISH.com: Australian Payment Processor Will Start Accepting Unionpay Cards
• Times of India: Mobile payment system to gain steam in coming months
• Mobile Way to Pay: Will Retailers Use Tender Steering To Take Control Of Interchange?
• Portals and Rails: The Check's in the Mail, but it might be Fraudulent
• TechCrunch: Online Point Of Sale (POS) Systems Are The New Vogue

FIS has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Capco, a global financial services business and technology consultancy.

“Combining Capco’s collaborative consulting services with FIS’ industry leading core banking and payments solution suite will enable both organizations to better leverage our individual strengths while providing our respective clients with a unique blend of market expertise, technology solutions and strategic support.”

FIS has announced that Banco Bradesco has recommitted to a Joint Venture and expanded card processing relationship.

According to the MOU and under the ten-year services agreement, FPS will provide comprehensive, fully outsourced card processing, call center, collection and back office services for Banco Bradesco’s private label and bankcard portfolios. FPS and Bradesco are working to complete the conversion of Bradesco’s 14 million bankcards during the fourth quarter of 2010, bringing the total number of cards processed on behalf of all FPS clients to more than 40 million.

FIS has announced results of research by eCom Advisors that it commissioned along with NACHA and PayPal finding that "demand for electronic person-to-person (P2P) payments and transfers is growing rapidly and the interest of making these and other payment transactions through an ePayment Portal is strong as well. In fact, the study found that of those who were interested in the Portal concept, 70 percent would be likely to use P2P payment services within that Portal." READ MORE »

NYCE has announced that Neil Marcous has been named President of NYCE Payments Network, LLC, and will lead FIS’ Payment Network Solutions business. Frank D’Angelo, executive vice president, FIS Payment Solutions Group, said “The nationwide NYCE Network is a critical component of our end-to-end, industry-leading payments strategy at FIS and continues to present tremendous growth opportunities for our organization. Neil’s extensive leadership experience and vast knowledge of the payments space will help us execute on our strategic vision for NYCE. I’m confident Neil and his team will continue to drive growth and market leadership for this key business line.” READ MORE »

FIS has announced its next generation bill payment solution for financial institutions. According to the company, "the new bill pay interface uses task-oriented, configurable modules that answer consumers’ hot button bill pay questions, all at the landing page. The solution features a product tour and setup assistant designed to ease “new user” apprehension and drive increased bill pay usage. “Click here” to take a fully interactive tour." READ MORE »

FIS has announced that it is integrating PayPal's person-to-person (P2P) payment system into the FIS online bill payment application for financial institutions. FIS says that "by integrating paperless P2P functionality into its online bill payment application, FIS empowers banks and credit unions to simultaneously solve for a real consumer need and drive increased transaction activity at the online channel." READ MORE »

Western Union and Fidelity National Information Services have announced an agreement to offer Western Union global money transfer services to FIS' more than 8,500 banking institution clients throughout the United States. The signing of FIS is an important step in Western Union's North America "go-to-market" strategy to continue its expansion into the banking channel. As Western Union expands its service offerings, in an effort to strongly position money transfers to consumers, it looks to tap into consumer banking channels including: Cash-to-Cash, Account-to-Cash, and Account-to-Account. READ MORE »

Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) and Metavante Technologies have announced that the boards of directors of both companies have approved a definitive agreement under which FIS will acquire Metavante. Under the terms of the agreement, Metavante shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 1.35 shares of FIS common stock for each share of Metavante common stock they own. The pro forma enterprise value of the combined company is approximately US$10 billion. A webcast and slide presentation are available online. READ MORE »

Fidelity National Information Services has announced the launch of a new two-way mobile banking and bill pay product suite, FIS Mobile Banking and Bill Pay. The offering supports all three modes of mobile banking -- SMS/text, mobile web and downloadable application solutions, allowing financial institutions to target different segments of their client-base with the most appropriate mobile banking solution. FIS teamed with ClairMail and mFoundry to provide the new services. READ MORE »

Jane Larson writes for the Arizona Republic about the acquisition of EFD/eFunds Corp. by Fidelity National Information Services announced last week and what that might mean for jobs in the Scottsdale headquarters of EFD.

Fidelity National Information Services and EFD/eFunds have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby FIS will acquire EFD in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion.

ID Analytics has announced that Fidelity National Financial will be using ID Analytics ID Network - what the company calls "the nation's first and only real-time fraud prevention network" - to manage identity risk.

Fidelity National Financial and Certegy have announced the signing of a definitive Merger Agreement under which Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. and Certegy will combine operations to form a single publicly traded entity.