On the web:

• Disrupting payments - Bdaily - "The spark for iZettle came from a conversation between the founder, Jacob de Geer and his wife."
• CFPB exodus: Brain drain or growing pains? - Politico - "There is both a push and a pull on these folks."
• Consumer Complaints on Checking Accounts Show Need for Action - Pew Charitable Trusts
• Mobile money making its mark with major groups: Millicom, MTN, Vodafone, and Orange - GSMA - "The four telecom groups represented in this blog post account for over 55 million mobile money subscribers according to their latest published figures."
• The cash-free challenge... are contactless cards a safe way to pay? - London Evening Standard - "People will argue forever that they don’t own contactless cards and then will open their wallet and find one…"
• Banks Battle Telcos for Cash in South African Townships - Bloomberg BusinessWeek - "Mobile-phone payment services like M-Pesa have blossomed in east Africa, while in South Africa they have struggled because of regulation and a lack of a network to deposit and withdraw cash…"
• Consumers ready for biometric payment methods - Cards International - "Instead of entering a PIN, users only had to place a finger on a reader to be authenticated."
• Calculating The Long-Term Value Of A Bitcoin - TechCrunch - "First, I agree with the common sentiment that in 10 years, bitcoins will either be worth nothing, or a lot more than they are now …"
• Do Digital Currencies Need Bank Secrecy Act Regulations? - Portals and Rails - "At the heart of the issue with this particular digital currency is its anonymous nature. "

On the wires:

• Silicon Valley Bank Hires New Chief Information Officer (Beth Devin) - "Beth is a great addition to our team with experience that will help us better serve our clients, and take advantage of disruptive financial tools…"
• i-Free, Tinkoff Credit Systems Bank and MasterCard come together to introduce first NFC wallet with remote Mobile MasterCard PayPass® issue in Russia and CIS - "This launch of the first NFC service in Russia that supports remote Mobile MasterCard PayPass card issue and personalization is a milestone event in the development of NFC infrastructure and services available to Russian banks and their customers…"
• Gemalto delivers micro-banking technology in Bangladesh - "This is a great example of how digital security can benefit a developing market and bring essential financial services to the world’s under-banked…"

On the web:

• First Look: Google Wallet "Pay by Gmail" (and the Pain of Authentication) - NetBanker - "Bottom line: This is a brilliant play by Google, taking everyone by surprise."
• PayPal Here in Japan: One year, 2,700 stores and thousands of happy merchants - PayPal Blog - "Via SoftBank retail shops and through SoftBank's business sales network across Japan we can now reach 80% of the Japanese small businesses that still do not accept credit card transactions today."
• The $45M Heist Heard ‘Round the World - 41st Parameter's Blog - "Given the scale of the global credit card networks, it is almost impossible to detect every kind of attack."
• GiftCards.com Agrees To Buy Giftly To Grow A Mobile Platform - TechCrunch - "Giftly built a platform that avoided the hassle of individually dealing with merchants and point-of-sale systems."
• Shoppers start adding digital gift cards to Apple’s Passbook wallet - Internet Retailer - "Cash Star says. 30% of e-mailed e-gift cards are opened on a smartphone, and 50% of those smartphones run iOS6."
• The End Of Monthly Bills - Snarketing 2.0 - "Monthly bills are so 20th century. There’s no need for them."
• Here are the videos in the Commerce track (including Google Wallet) from last week's Google IO Conference
• iZettle wants to 'fundamentally change the process of becoming a customer' - "A good example might be that an auto dealer doesn't try to sell a Ferrari to everyone. That's essentially what banks have been doing for a while and most small cafes aren't looking for Ferraris…"
• Do Prepaid Cards Spell the End of Cash? - TMG Blog - "Did you know that March 1, 2013, marked “the end of cash” for the U.S. government?"
• Phone Firms Sell Data on Customers - Wall St. Journal - "…carriers are coming to see subscribers as sources of data that can be mined for profit..."
• Bank innovation: this time there's commitment - Financial Services Club Blog - "Are banks truly committed to innovate? Will they invest without a business case? Will they allow failure? Will they let the innovation cannibalise the existing business model?"
• Wallet Wars – Coming to a Mobile Near You Soon - Gemalto Telecom Blog - "Consumers want help managing their lives; banks, retailers and mobile network operators want customer loyalty; it’s down to all of us to work together, securely, to offer the best possible consumer experience for mobile wallets."
• SumUp, One Of Europe’s Many Mobile Payments Startups, Launches In Russia - TechCrunch - "SumUp said Russian businesses can now sign up to its service in Svyaznoy stores as well as on its own website..."
• Not just contactless, but M&S contactless - Tomorrow's Transactions - "It was a brilliant plan, and we might have got away with it if it hadn't been for you darn kids."

On the wires:

• Hastings Entertainment Adds Payment by PayPal and Bill Me Later Options to goHastings.com - "PayPal is used by millions of consumers and we feel that in addition to the added security benefits, our customers will also enjoy a simpler, more convenient checkout process when using PayPal."
• Wells Fargo Leads Fraud Management by Launching 3-Domain Verification for Commercial Card Customers - "In a related enhancement, Wells Fargo is also issuing EMV-compliant WellsOne Commercial Cards with an embedded microprocessor chip and traditional magnetic stripe to customers…"
• NCR to Make Mobile Ordering Easier for Jamba Juice Customers - "Working with NCR and PayPal we are using mobile ordering and payment technologies to align with our brand essence of a healthy, active lifestyle and help us deliver more value to our customers."
• American Express Offers Promotion of Free Two-Day Shipping with ShopRunner to U.S. Consumer Cardmembers - "Shipping costs can really add up when shopping online and with this new offer, our Cardmembers can benefit from the savings that ShopRunner provides at many of their favorite places to shop."
• Wake Up and Smell the Coffers! Mobey Forum gets Bullish with Banks at MobeyDay 2013 - "Many financial institutions still do not appreciate the revenue generating power offered by the mobile channel."
• France Overtakes UK as Europe’s Top Card Fraud Victim, FICO Map Reveals - "For the first time in years, the UK did not have the highest card fraud losses in Europe — France took its place, with 29 percent of the region’s losses, compared to the UK’s 27 percent."
• NCR Installs First EMV Compliant ATM in U.S. at People’s United Bank - "The upgrade of U.S. ATMs – including those at People’s United – includes an upgrade to the card reader hardware inside the machines as well as a software upgrade."
• Dynamics Inc.'s New LifeCode™ Electronic Card Empowers Consumers to "Save Your Own Life(SM)"
• Citi Invites Its Cardholders to Upgrade with Hotel Privileges - "Hotel Privileges provides special access to more than 1,000 luxury hotels around the world…"
• Oberthur Technologies’ dragonFly NFC SIM Card Certified by MasterCard and Visa - "As the fastest card on the market, it offers speedy download of new services and files through an integrated “NFC Turbo Engine”…"
• Net Element to Acquire Aptito, a Next Generation Cloud-Based Point of Sale Payments Platform - "Restaurants equipped with Aptito have experienced key benefits including increased revenue per table, higher customer service scores and now have a tool to drive acquisition and retention of new customers…"

On the web:

• China's UnionPay Payment Network Launches Its First Card Issued in the U.S. - WSJ - "The UnionPay prepaid card will be sold online and in bank branches in major U.S. cities..."
• Mobile Commerce Isn’t Just About Payments - ZDnet UK - "When consumers get added value from their purchase transactions, their mobile phones become not only their conduit into the digital world, but also a kind of concierge, simplifying their lives."
• CBA's clever Kaching ambitions - Business Spectator - "By enabling so many types of payment through a mobile phone, Commonwealth Bank is teaching its customers that if they want to make a payment – in any situation – they should use the Kaching app."
• Starbucks generates 10pc of US revenue from mobile - Mobile Commerce Daily - "Every week, Starbucks is seeing close to four million mobile payment transactions…"
• Chip cards are fundamentally flawed - The Bankwatch Blog - "Sometimes when I read the debates on chip, PIN and EMV I feel I am listening to the Flat Earth Society."
• Future of payments does not need Mastercard or Visa - banking chief - HumanIPO - "The “gorillas” of Mastercard and Visa will in the future no longer be needed because of the direction of banking and payment solutions in the cloud…

On the wires:

• Barclaycard Germany Signed Multi-Year Contract for Debit and Credit Cards with Gemalto

On the web:

• EMV Goes Global: The End of an Era for the Magnetic Stripe Payment Card
• More to African Mobile Payments than M-Pesa - WSJ TechEurope
• The Sleeping Giants Of African Mobile Payments - TechCrunch

On the wires:

• Discover Cardmembers Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® on Department Store and Online Shopping Purchases
• eBay Inc. Plans Q4 Restructuring Charge Related to PayPal Product Simplification
• Vodafone selects Gemalto to setup and manage global NFC Mobile Payment Services
• Payair´s mobile shopping solution gets more accessible for e-retailers globally

On the web:

• What CIOs Need To Understand About Apple's Passbook Service - Forbes

On the wires:

• NAB Partners with VeriFone for Payments Innovation
• Virtual Piggy Signs on Triko to Accept Safe Youth Payments
• Rogers Communications Selects Gemalto to Secure Mobile NFC Payment Solutions
• Skrill Announces 29% Revenue Increase And 30 Million Customer Accounts Globally
• NCR RDC Solution Selected by SunTrust to Enable Customers to Make Deposits Anywhere

Gemalto announced that it closed the acquisition of Ericsson Internet Payment Exchange AB ("IPX") with the exception of operations in USA, from Ericsson.

"Acquiring IPX is a natural step for us in supporting the ramp up of MNO and mobile service providers related payment and identity services," said Olivier Piou, CEO of Gemalto. "IPX's positioning, as an international player built on Ericsson advanced technology, is really a perfect fit with Gemalto".

As part of the transaction, Gemalto is also acquiring Ericsson's Trusted Service Manager (TSM) activity. IPX will join Gemalto's Software & Services business line in the Mobile Communications segment.

MoneyGram and Gemalto have announced a global agreement to provide MoneyGram services over Gemalto’s LinqUs Mobile Money solution.

MoneyGram’s money transfer platform will be integrated with Gemalto’s LinqUs mobile payment platform solution, allowing customers to send international transfers from a mobile phone to one of MoneyGram’s 284,000 locations worldwide or receive transfers directly to their mobile wallet. Gemalto Mobile Financial Services clients, including banks and mobile operators, will be able to connect directly to MoneyGram’s global network and offer convenient and secure mobile remittance services.

On the web:

• London Oyster Card Chief: NFC Not Ready for Fast-Paced Fare Payment - NFC Times
• Could The BlackBerry Save Mobile Payments? Maybe It’s The Only Thing That Can - StorefrontBacktalk
• Gocardless Opens Up For Dead Simple, Low-Cost Payments In Europe - GigaOM
• Russian Bank To Release Angry Birds Co-Brand Card -The Moscow News

On the wires:

• epay Launches Ria Branded PINless Calling Product
• Gemalto Supports “la Caixa” in Spain’s First Large Scale Deployment of Contactless EMV Payment

Gemalto has announced its in-branch Dexxis EMV instant issuance card solution for U.S. banks, designed to "streamline and accelerate EMV migration. Dexxis instant issuance allows banks to immediately issue and activate initial and replacement cards directly at the physical bank branch location, rather than sending personalized cards to end users via postal mail."

On the web:

• Debit-Fee Retreat Complete - WSJ.com
• PayPal's Coolest Mobile Wallet Feature: The Oops Button - Forbes
• Square to Allow Card-free Payments - San Jose Mercury News
• Russian ATM Can Detect When Users are Lying - Springwise
• Womply’s New Deals Startup Loads Local Offers Onto Your Credit Cards - TechCrunch
• Google Wallet Roadshow Schedule - Google Commerce Blog
• PayPal Opens Shopping Showcase in New York - PayPal Blog

On the wires:

• SafetyPay and PlaySpan Partner to Offer International e-Shoppers Secure Payment Option
• Vindicia Adds New Campaign Management Features to CashBox
• Cardlytics Brings the Power of Transaction-Marketing to Leading Local Retailers
• CashStar Unveils Mobile Web Gift Card Purchasing
• Gemalto Launches Ezio Plug & Sign for Unmatched Online Transaction Security
• Fiserv Integrates ACCEL/Exchange and Prepaid Solutions to Deliver Next-Generation Prepaid Services

Gemalto has announced the world’s first UICC-embedded software application compliant with the new MasterCard payment specification designed for mobile NFC.

This major breakthrough paves the way for mass commercial rollouts of NFC payment across the world. In the UK, Gemalto is already partnering with a global, first-tier financial institution and a world leading mobile operator, to implement the new MasterCard certified mobile payment application and carry out the solution’s first mass commercial roll out.

Gemalto has announced that "NetOne, a leading network operator in Zimbabwe, is deploying Gemalto’s LinqUs solution for Mobile Money Transfer, which comprises of the server, user application, as well as system integration services. The offer, being marketed as the OneWallet service, works on 100% of the handsets and will enable all NetOne subscribers to perform secure and convenient money transfer using their mobile phone. In particular, it provides the unbanked with access to secure banking services."

On the wires:

• Verifi Selected by Marketing Architects for Real-Time Fraud Analysis
• New eLayaway 2.0 Beta Release Enhances Both Merchant and Consumer Experience
• Panini First to Market with RDC Solution for Apple Macintosh Users
• Parago Announces Surging Rebate Activity in 2010
• New BCG Report - 'Global Payments 2011'
• Crédit Agricole Selects Gemalto for Its Mobile Contactless Payment Program in Nice
• New Juniper Research Report - Mobile Money Transfer & Remittances
• Guardian Analytics Finishes 2010 with Record Growth in Customers and Revenue

On the web:

• Wall Street Journal: Fed Proposes Implementation Of Two Dodd-Frank Provisions
• TechCrunch: BillGuard Raises $3M To Track Hidden Fees, Billing Errors On Credit Card Bills
• PayPal Blog: PayPal teams with Points.com to turn airline miles into cash
• codebutler: New 'FareBot' Android App Can Harvest Data from Public Transit Cards
• O'Reilly Radar Report: ePayments: Emerging Platforms, Embracing Mobile, and Confronting Identity

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’

Gemalto has announced a new credit card technology that allows banks to provide a single card that delivers both payment and increased security for online transactions.

The card’s online secure password feature is activated by pressing a button on the face of the card. A one-time code is digitally generated and displayed. The card becomes a second factor of authentication, allowing the user to enter this unique and non-reusable numeric code on a Web page, in addition to their user name and password.

VeriFone has announced its PAYware Merchant managed service is now available across Europe. The recently announced strategic partnership with Gemalto "completes VeriFone’s pan-European sales and distribution network and makes a continental payment gateway service feasible." PAYware Merchant is a bank-certified, hosted payment solution for large retailers, fuel organizations and hospitality companies.

VeriFone and Gemalto have announced a comprehensive strategic partnership to jointly pursue new chip card solutions based on the global EMV payment standard. The two companies are also in exclusive discussions for VeriFone to acquire Gemalto's point of sale (POS) solutions business. As part of the partnership, Gemalto will also be the preferred supplier of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) wireless modules and related solutions for VeriFone payment systems.

Seven players in the Near Field Communication (NFC) ecosystem, Ericsson, Gemalto, NXP, Oberthur Technologies, STMicroelectronics, Venyon, and ViVOtech have announced they are forming a MIFARE4Mobile Industry Group that will "enable its members to collaborate and work together to standardize and advance the uniform management of MIFARE™ applications on NFC-enabled secure elements, such as SIM cards, and mobile phones." READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced it has been selected by the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU) to deliver the first U.S. issued, globally compliant microprocessor payment card. According to the company, "UNFCU recognized the need of their members, who reside and frequently travel to more than 210 countries and territories, to have a more convenient and secure payment option when traveling internationally. Partnering with Gemalto, UNFCU will be able to provide a globally compliant Europay MasterCard Visa (EMV) standard-based Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA) contact and contactless dual interface card that can be used anytime – anywhere their members travel. UNFCU anticipates introducing the program in the second half of 2010." READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Todos AB from investors led by 6AP, a fund belonging to the Swedish National Pension system. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and employing 80 people worldwide, Todos AB is a provider of strong authentication solutions for internet banking. READ MORE »

Gemalto has introduced the World Traveler program, a globally accepted dual interface EMV payment microprocessor card and complete issuance service for U.S. banks and card issuers. According to the company: "With most countries around the world moving to EMV-based payment for greater security, U.S. travelers are increasingly having trouble using magnetic stripe bankcards abroad, especially in offline applications like unattended ticketing/payment kiosks. Gemalto’s new World Traveler program allows any U.S. issuer to provide cards to their customers in under two months, ensuring secure and hassle-free payments while traveling internationally and at home." READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced that it has acquired Valimo Wireless, a mobile authentication company based in Helsinki, Finland. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

According to Gemalto, "Valimo has pioneered the use of two-channel, two-factor authentication based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), combining an over the air platform (OTA) with a software client in the SIM to generate a legally binding electronic signature, any time, any place. Valimo enables mobile phone users to securely authenticate themselves, digitally sign documents and confirm legally binding transactions simply by entering a self-chosen passphrase or a PIN code. Valimo Mobile ID solution facilitates secure online banking, mobile payments, governmental services, electronic and mobile commerce, and identity and access rights management for enterprise applications." READ MORE »

Gemalto has launched the world’s first bio-sourced degradable smart cards. According to the company, "the card body is made from renewable material, is easily recyclable and compostable, and can be incinerated without emissions of toxic fumes. Additionally, Gemalto offers packaging made from recycled paper and vegetable inks that significantly reduce the product’s environmental impact. Gemalto’s bio-sourced smart cards will be ready for mass production in the first quarter of 2010." READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced that it has deployed its Secure Access Modules (SAM) into existing EasyCard payment terminals in Taiwan with eSECURE Technology. The SAM card is used to upgrade existing payment terminals for contactless use. Upgraded contactless-ready terminals give consumers a simple, fast and secure means to make small sum payments. There are currently around 16 million EasyCards in the market. READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced commercial launch of the Ezio Optical TAN, a unique optical authentication reader for online banking access that is specially designed for the German market. According to the company, "the reader, the size of a credit card, fits in a wallet along with the banking card. Users present the device in front of their computer screen and optical sensors capture the data they would normally enter from the reader keypad to carry out and sign online transactions. No software needs to be installed to use the device." READ MORE »

Gemalto and INSIDE Contactless have announced availability of a Near-Field Communications (NFC) solution fully complying with the latest ETSI standards. According to the companies,

"the solution also meets the new GSM Association "Pay-Buy-Mobile" mobile handset requirements based on the Single Wire Protocol (SWP). The new Inside MicroRead® NFC chip, combined with the Gemalto latest UpTeq 300 m-NFC SIM card embarking a Common Criteria EAL4+ security certified chip, gives handset makers and mobile operators the first fully compliant, interoperable, full-speed SWP solution - tested at 1.6 Mbps - to support proximity payments, transport and ticketing."

Gemalto has announced a partnership with India-based technology partner mChek to bolster the range and choice of secured mobile banking solutions available on Gemalto SIM cards to markets in South Asia. READ MORE »

Gemalto has introduced a new consumer website that helps "consumers fully enjoy their digital lifestyle and protect their personal financial information as they buy, surf, communicate and travel.

The site www.JustAskGemalto.com is a place where people can go for expert advice on topics such as Internet security, online payment, password management, credit card fraud, cell phone usage, identity theft and more. Until now, no one site has gathered all these different topics in one place. As the use of our digital information spreads, we as individuals have a role in safeguarding it more than ever.

Gemalto has announced that it has equipped over 300 shopping malls worldwide with its Dexxis Instant Issuance solution, "enabling on-the-spot delivery of one million credit cards per year in total." READ MORE »

Gemalto has announced that five banks in France are currently using its Allynis service as part of the "Payez Mobile" trial for contactless mobile payment: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole-LCL, Crédit Mutuel-CIC, Caisse d’Epargne and La Banque Postale Groups.

According to Gemalto, "the Pegasus group, which consists of seven major banks and four mobile operators in France, launched the program in November 2007 with 1,000 user clients and 200 merchants in Caen and Strasbourg. The renewal of the Gemalto service contract until the end of 2008 reasserts its recognition as a trusted third party among the various parties involved in the mobile NFC ecosystem." READ MORE »