CardGuide international

Motorola Solutions, Inc. released the findings of a survey that demonstrates increasing interest from retail, hospitality and field service industries for mobile Point of Sale (mPOS) solutions as a core strategy for improving customer service. Retailers in particular showed a strong interest in deploying mPOS solutions over the next couple years to provide shoppers with more personalized service and payment convenience while gaining countless opportunities to close the sale.

MasterCard released the results of their first PayPass Adoption Study, a quantitative analysis of the changes in U.S. account transaction behavior after adopting a contactless payments solution. This examination of 15 months of payments behaviors offers a rich set of data points and a number of insights into the adoption and use of new payment solutions such as MasterCard PayPass. In one of the study's key findings, the research showed that within the first 12 months of their first contactless transaction, adopter accounts spent almost 30% more on average, using their PayPass-enabled card. The research also found a clear correlation between contactless adoption and preference for a particular card, illustrating that a contactless payments solution may help drive top-of-wallet behavior.

Following a competitive tender, Parkeon Transit has won a contract with Translink to supply 275 of its advanced Parkeon P50 handheld ticket machines for use on train services. The new units will be rolled out in 2013 and will not only offer cash and contactless smart card transactions but will also handle payment by chip and PIN credit/debit card and contactless EMV.

Mal McGreevy, Translink's General Manager, Rail Services said "Translink have been pioneers in innovative smart ticketing technology with customer smartcards electronically accepted on-train since 2002. These new P50 ticket machines will make it easy and convenient for our customers to purchase tickets on board with their credit and debit cards including EMV Contactless transactions. "

HSBC will start to roll out contactless cards this month, enabling customers to pay for items up to the value of £15 with just a single 'tap.' This will increase to £20 from 01 June 2012. HSBC will be replacing those debit cards which are due to expire from May 2012 onwards with new cards containing the contactless technology enabling customers to swipe for goods in time for the Olympic Games, across the UK – as well as overseas. The technology is being rolled out to HSBC customers from May onwards. Barnaby Jenkins, Head of Cards for HSBC, said: "Contactless technology is an efficient and secure way for customers to pay for goods, with a clear time saving advantage over alternative forms of payment. By starting to issue cards now customers will be able to take advantage of the contactless payment pads that are being installed in Olympic venues. Security is an important consideration for us too with customers enjoying the same protection against fraudulent transactions as with the existing chip and pin system."