Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

Barclays issues a million contactless cards

Monday, December 1, 2008

Barclays has issued its millionth contactless Barclaycard in the UK., beating its original projections by a month. The bank had originally predicted it would reach that million-card benchmark by the end of the year.

More than 6,000 shops across the UK now have the technology to use the cards installed, ranging from high street chains such as Coffee Republic and Eat to independent retailers such as dry cleaners.

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Research and Markets announced the addition of Polasik Research’s contactless payment cards market report, “The Global Contactless Payment Cards Market”, to its offering.

The report describes the evolution contactless payment methods used at point-of-sale, with reference to the solutions offered under the American Express/MasterCard/Visa Agreement. The report also examines the prospects for the development of contactless payments all over the world, including the potential to develop into NFC-based mobile payments.

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Visa Europe has announced that six of Germany’s leading banks are launching Visa payWave contactless services in 2012.

BW Bank, comdirect, DKB, Landesbank Berlin, TARGOBANK and Volkswagen Bank have all confirmed their plans to roll out payWave technology by the middle of next year.

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Identive Group Inc. has announced a deal to acquire a majority stake in Hamburg, Germany-based payment solution AG, a cashless payment system provider for stadiums, arenas and other types of entertainment venues.

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Superdrug, one of Britain’s largest beauty and health retailers, has introduced contactless payment for its in-store customers, according to Retail Gazette.

Created by Streamline and Visa Europe, the contactless system will enable customers to make payments of up to £15 (approx. USD $23) by simply waving their contactless bank card at the more than 50 participating Superdrug stores in London and Liverpool.

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German bank, Sparkasse will pilot contactless payments for its bank credit card users, reports Venture Village.

Locations in Hannover, Braunschweig and Wolfsburg will be some of the first for the trial, which begins in April. More than 1.3 million customers will receive the new bank cards complete with contactless functionality.

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la Caixa and Visa Europe have begun rolling out their contactless payment system in Barcelona. The bank is set to make all cards and point-of-sale across Barcelona contactless, requiring the distribution of 1 million cards and more than 15,000 new POS terminals.

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