Mozido announced the launch of the 'Genius Wallet', a global mobile wallet platform for the unbanked and banked.

"Our Genius Wallet(SM) brings every mobile phone user, including the unbanked, into a secure, convenient, and efficient financial ecosystem," says Greg Corona, CEO, Mozido LLC "It offers opportunity and hope for a huge population worldwide, empowering them to enjoy a broad range of banking and financial services often for the first time, using their mobile phone."

In December, Mozido and MoneyGram struck a partnership to include MoneyGram remittance transfer services for approved Mozido mobile wallet applications.

MoneyGram International has announced a cash-to-account service with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), one of China’s largest banks. "With the new service, consumers can now send money directly into ICBC bank accounts in China. ICBC has locations across China and manages more than 269 million personal banking customers."

On the web:

• My Mobile Payments Receives RBI’s Approval to Issue Mobile Wallet in India - MoneyLife

On the wires:

• Apparel Retailer Aéropostale Selects CashStar to Deliver eGift Cards
• CHARGE Anywhere Releases Payment Application for Windows Mobile
• MoneyGram Growth Continues in India: State Bank of India Joins Agent Network

On the web:

• PayPal's Thompson on Cloud-Based Mobile Payments (Video Interview) - Bloomberg
• Mokipay Enables Mobile Payments in Lithuania (via NFC sticker) - ArcticStartup
• Mexico Remittances Rise the Most in 5 Years on Cheaper Peso - Businessweek
• PayPal to Open Global Operations Center in Malaysia - WSJ.com

On the wires:

• Braintree Now Processing $4 Billion Per Year
• Using MoneyGram to Send Money Now Supported Online at Walmart.com
• U.S. Bank Launches the New Visa Convenient Cash Card
• iovation and AliasLab Launch Fraud Protection and Device Identification Services to Southern Europe
• Travelex Introduces Chip & PIN-Enabled Prepaid Foreign Currency Card in Canada

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:

• Big Banks Blink On Debit-Card Fees - WSJ.com
• Why Banks Want to Wean You Off Debit Cards - msnbc.com
• Amazon Awarded Patent for Smart Gift Card with Parental Control - PCWorld
• The Future of Money in a Webbed-up World (multiple articles) - New Scientist
• Cards, Cards and More Cards: The Evolution to Prepaid Cards - Federal Reserve Bank of St.Louis
• MasterCard Lands Huntington Debit Cards, Seeks To Grow Share - WSJ.com

On the wires:

• New Aite Group Report on Online Fraud Mitigation
• Fortumo Releases Cross-Platform Mobile Payments for HTML5 Apps
• MoneyGram International Signs Agreement with Cumberland Farms to Launch MoneyGram Xpress In-lane Money Transfer Service

On the web:

• Google’s NFC Wallet Predicament - NFC Times
• Mobile Payments Arrive on BlackBerry Phones - NFC World
• Understanding the Durbin Amendment: A Fun Timeline InfoGraphic - NerdWallet

On the wires:

• CashStar Secures $12 Million in Funding
• Chase Paymentech Launches Safetech in Canada
• SafetyPay Partners With Brazil’s 6th Largest Bank, HSBC Bank Brazil
• VeriFone Announces H5000 Hybrid Terminal with Swipe, EMV, and NFC Support
• AccountNow Customers Can Conveniently Access MoneyGram’s Global Network While Online
• iSend Passes Milestones on Way to Global Coverage in Cross-Border Electronic Payment Services
• Aconite Launches Mobile Application Management Solution For Secure Elements
• Tru.ly Launches First Ever Age Verification API Based on Government Issued Data
• Paytoo Expands Its Presence in Latin America

On the web:

• Rich? Have We Got the Credit Card for You - Wall Street Journal
• Isracard in Pilot to use Cell Phone as Credit Card - Globes Online
• Mobile Payment Players Swallow Their Egos - eWEEK Europe UK
• How Starbucks Is Paving the Way for Mainstream Mobile Payments - Mashable
• Square Closes That $100 Million Round, Mary Meeker Joins Board - TechCrunch

On the wires:

• London Cabs Gear Up to Accept Cards for 2012 Olympics
• Regions Bank Signs Agreement with Western Union to Offer Global Money Transfer Services
• INSIDE Secure and ZTE Working to Bring NFC Phones to GSM and 3G Networks
• Singapore’s Largest Taxi Operator Selects VeriFone NFC Payment Solution
• Global Blue Selects Hypercom Payment Solutions for Merchant Customers Worldwide
• MoneyGram International Celebrates Milestone: 1,000 locations in France
• ProfitStars Introduces Remote Deposit Anywhere: Mobile and Flatbed RDC Solution
• Online Payment Processor PayLane Introduces Partner Affiliate Program

On the wires:

• Bangkok Airways Chooses Accertify to Provide Online Fraud Prevention
• MoneyGram International Adds Friendly Check and RiteCheck to Global Network
• TGate Announces Mobile Payment Best Practice Solution

On the web:

• Bank Technology News: Real U.S. Action on EMV
• Roll Call Lobbying: Swipe Fees Battle May Move to States
• Hindu Business Line: Soon, Merchant Transactions Too Can Be Paid Via Mobile
• AuctionBytes: Google Removes Checkout Badges from AdWord Ads
• Seeking Alpha: Elephant Talk and Mobile Wallets - The Next Trillion Dollar Revolution
• Business Standard: IndusInd Bank Pact with ECS for Credit Card Program in India
• CRIenglish.com: China UnionPay Cards to Be Accepted in Brazil
• Retail Week: Taking Payment Overseas
• NFC Times: With Launch of Google Wallet, the Wallet War Begins

MoneyGram and InComm have announced an agreement where InComm will assist MoneyGram in the distribution and activation of MoneyGram Xpress packages in select outlets in InComm’s network of more than 225,000 retail locations.

“We are pleased to introduce this new money transfer service and bring a whole new level of ease and convenience to our consumers,” said Stu Kiefer, MoneyGram vice president of product management. “Prepaid money transfers allow consumers to pay for the transfer amount and fees at the same time as they make other retail purchases and then actually make the transfer when convenient for them – online or by phone. The product broadens ways to access money transfer services and for many, assists with time and money management.”

On the wires:

• MoneyGram International Introduces Cash-To-Account Money Transfer Service in the Philippines
• International Visa Cardholders Increased Tourism Spend in the US by 18% in 2010
• comScore Says Credit Card Shopping More Prevalent as US Consumer Economic Sentiment Improves

On the web:

• Fortune: Venmo: Fighting the good fight against the online payment giants
• Digital Transactions: eBillme Takes a Dive into the E-Gift Card Pool
• Mashable: Why the Mobile Payment Debate Is Headed in the Wrong Direction [OPINION]

On the wires:

• Western Union, Seven Bank to Introduce International Money Transfers in Japan
• Union Plus and Rev Worldwide Partner on Prepaid Cards for Working Families
• MoneyGram Reveals Strong Results from New Fraud Prevention Tool
• CreditCall Rolls Out End-to-End Encryption Technology
• Study Finds That Identity Theft Protection Services Can Help Mitigate Incident Costs

On the web:

• TechCrunch: Offermatic Raises $4.5 Million From Kleiner Perkins
• MSNBC: The credit card of the future: It 'talks' to you
• Reuters: Senate Must Act First on Debit Card Fees Say Bachus
• TechCrunch: Square’s Jack Dorsey Responds to VeriFone’s Security Hole Allegation

On the wires:

• TNS Launches Enhanced Payment Gateway Service in UK and Ireland
• MoneyGram, Iris Wireless and Globe Telecom Partner to Provide Mobile Top-Up to Philippines
• Paydiant Closes Series A Funding for Mobile Payments Venture
• Zeevex Chosen by Leading Online Game Publishers to Provide Open Virtual Currency Solution
• Zuora’s February ’11 Release Brings Deeper Integration with PayPal and Easy Connections to Third Party Subscription Commerce Systems

On the web:

• Inside Mobile Apps: Are In-App Payments and Facebook Credits on a Collision Course?
• Springwise: Peer-to-Peer Currency Exchange Puts Users in Control
• TechCrunch Europe: SponsorPay Takes Funding from Nokia Growth Partners to Target Mobile
• RFPConnect: NetSpend Unveils iPhone App
• TrialPay Blog: The History of Video Game Monetization

On the wires:

• Visa Europe and Monitise Sign Partnership Agreement to Develop Mobile Payments
• MoneyGram International and Movistar Sign Strategic Agreement
• INSIDE Secure Brings Biometric On-Card Matching Security to SecuRead NFC Solution
• MoneyGram and Visa Extend Remittance Service to World's Largest Remittances Corridor
• INETCO “Ready to Rocket” with INETCO Insight Business Transaction Management Solution
• ProPay Debuts 'Zumogo' Mobile Payment Application for Smartphones
• BillFloat Gives NewWave Communications Customers More Time to Pay Bills
• The Clearing House Announces New Board Leadership (PDF)
• TomorrowVentures & CompuCredit Holdings Corporation Invest in Social Payments Leader Twitpay

On the web:

• Rethink Wireless: Ericsson Unveils its Mobile Money Framework
• American Banker: Mobile Banking Pioneer Firethorn Shifts Gears
• Springwise: More donations to charity via rounded-up credit card purchases
• U.S. News: 8 Things You Can’t Do With Cash

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

MoneyGram and CashEdge have announced that they plan to integrate their respective money transfer and payment services platforms so that "recipients of Popmoney payments would be able to direct receipt of their funds to any of MoneyGram's 200,000 retail agent locations in more than 190 countries. This would enable Popmoney customers to send money to recipients who can then direct the funds to be picked up at an international MoneyGram location, to recipients who may lack a traditional bank account, or to those who simply prefer to withdraw funds as cash." READ MORE »

MoneyGram has announced an agreement with BillingTree to provide same-day, cash bill pay services at MoneyGram's approximately 35,000 agent locations nationwide under the brand name BillingTree PaynCash. BillingTree provides billers with a range of options for accepting payments such as ACH and credit card via online, IVR/VRU, and MOTO channels. The addition of MoneyGram's agent network rounds out BillingTree's suite of payment services, giving consumers another option when it is necessary to pay in cash or to make a last-minute payment.

MoneyGram announced it has added the Savings Bank of the Russian Federation (Sberbank) to its network. Sberbank is the oldest and largest bank in Russia and Eastern Europe and is expected to be MoneyGram’s largest agent in the region. The bank will introduce MoneyGram services initially in more than 7,000 locations.

Russia is the third largest send market in the world after the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Countries that receive the most in remittances originating in Russia are: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Ukraine. Russia is also in the top 20 receive countries in remittances.

Western Union has announced the launch of account-based money transfer (ABMT) services to two new Asia-Pacific markets, Korea and India. The new offering build on agreements with Western Union’s existing agents in the two countries: Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) and the State Bank of India (SBI).

In related news, MoneyGram announced it has signed two national post offices to its growing international agent network -- the Kazakhstan Post and the Moldova Post

And in even more related news, Standard Chartered Bank, India's largest international bank, has announced the launch of its online remittance service, Transfer2Home, that enable customers to transfer money to India from USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bahrain.

MoneyGram has introduced state-of-the-art technology to better protect its customers and agents from fraud.

According to the company, "The enhanced technologies, which layer in protection through identification of suspicious transactions, computer and behavioural authentication and anti-phishing capabilities, are already dramatically reducing third-party consumer fraud at agent locations and online."

MoneyGram International and Visa have announced the launch of MoneyGram’s first cash-to-Visa card program enabling consumers to transfer money from MoneyGram locations in the United States directly to the Visa accounts of recipients outside of the United States. At launch, the new program will enable funds to be received on Visa-branded credit and debit cards issued by Banco Industrial, a Visa bank and MoneyGram agent in Guatemala. READ MORE »

Fiserv has announced a partnership with MoneyGram International to enable consumers to pay household bills through financial institution websites the same day they are due. The bills that will be available for same day payment represent those most common to U.S. households, including auto, mortgage, credit card, utility and mobile phone bills. READ MORE »

MoneyGram International and Affinity Global Services have announced an agreement "that will enable mobile money transfer receives in important markets around the globe, bringing greater convenience and extending the benefits of MoneyGram services to a new category of consumers. The MoneyGram and Affinity Global Services alliance will allow consumers to use MoneyGram’s agent network of over 180,000 locations around the world to send money to an account associated with a mobile device." READ MORE »

MoneyGram International and AccountNow have announced an agreement to launch a new Visa-branded prepaid card available at select MoneyGram agent locations starting in June 2009. According to the two companies, "the agreement builds on an existing relationship wherein MoneyGram is providing consumers with the convenience of adding funds to their AccountNow reloadable prepaid cards at any of its 40,000 MoneyGram ExpressPayment® locations across the United States." READ MORE »

MoneyGram and NetSpend have announced an agreement that will enable NetSpend prepaid debit card holders to be able to load value to their cards in a real-time, single-step transaction at any of the 40,000 MoneyGram ExpressPayment agent locations nationwide. According to the two companies, the agreement brings the number of locations that NetSpend customers can reload their prepaid debit cards to approximately 90,000. READ MORE »

MoneyGram International and Visa have announced plans to introduce Visa ReadyLink – Visa’s prepaid load network – in MoneyGram’s 40,000 agent locations across the United States, providing financially underserved consumers with more convenient options to add funds to their Visa reloadable prepaid cards. READ MORE »

MoneyGram International and Cardtronics have announced that MoneyGram money transfer and ExpressPayment urgent bill payment services will be offered through 2,250 advanced-function ATMs located at 7-Eleven, Inc. convenience stores in the U.S. beginning in late 2008. READ MORE »