First Tech Launches Native Windows Phone Banking App

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First Tech Federal Credit Union launched its new Windows Phone mobile banking app, making it the first credit union in the United States to introduce a native Windows Phone mobile banking app complete with integrated mobile deposit and bill pay functionality. First Tech members can now bank from their Windows Phone, iPhone or Android smart phone anytime, anywhere. App features include access to First Tech accounts anytime, anywhere; making deposits with mobile e-deposit; paying bills; transfer funds and finding a First Tech branch. First Tech will launch its new Windows phone app on-site at the main Microsoft campus, giving employees of Microsoft an in-depth look at this new platform.

NCR, MasterCard and ING Expand Contactless ATM Footprint

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NCR Corporation global technology company introduced its contactless ATM environments. Working with MasterCard and ING Bank to bring the new technology to customers in Poland, this pilot program was launched in November, allowing ING customers in Poland to quickly and easily withdraw cash from an ATM without needing to insert their card. Financial institutions and retailers are looking for a variety of methods to deliver flexible payment options for their customers. Beyond NFC-enabled devices, NCR has implemented or introduced proof of concepts using contactless cards, 2D barcode transactions, and one-time PINs for ATM transactions alone. The contactless-card enabled machines permit ING customers with VISA and MasterCard debit contactless cards to initiate fast cash withdrawals by holding their card near the ATM reader. Upon a confirmation of their PIN code, customers will have the choice of a cash dispense in common “fast cash” values.

Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index Weakens

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[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index- after having improved in February- was down significantly in March to 59.7 from 68.0. Meanwhile, the Present Situation Index hit 57.9 from 61.4 and the Conference Board Expectations Index was down to 60.9 from the February figure of 72.4. This decrease was due in large…

Virtual Piggy Appoints Mobile Strategist

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Virtual Piggy safe youth payments appointed Iain Herd Global Mobile Product Director, bringing with him over thirteen years’ experience in product management, and seven years leading mobile initiatives at major corporations, Iain will be responsible for directing and managing Virtual Piggy’s Mobile First initiative, reporting directly to CEO and Founder, Dr. Jo Webber. Iain, an expert in mobile technology, held the role of Global Head of Mobile Partnerships and Product at PayPal wherein he launched a number of key mobile services including the PayPal Wallet app for Windows Phone in addition to developing Point of Sales solutions and carrier billing and device partnerships, establishing PayPal as a key player in the mobile industry. He also spent 5 years with Vodafone leading the management of global social networking initiatives, working with leading industry partners including Facebook, Skype, Windows Live, Yahoo!, Google and Twitter.

AmEx & Milwaukee Committee Encourages Local High Growth Ventures

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The Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC) local business coalition announced Milwaukee will be the first community in the U.S. to develop an entrepreneurship program using a model developed by Daniel Isenberg, founding executive director of the Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Projects. As part of a bipartisan effort to grow the economy by stimulating high-growth ventures and encouraging job creation, the OPEN for Enterprise model is based on testing and validating entrepreneurship ecosystems abroad, including successful programs in Colombia, Brazil and Denmark to foster policies, institutions and cultures that stimulate long-term economic growth, development and prosperity through programs and workshops. Coalitions for High-Growth Entrepreneurship is designed to help high potential urban communities connect a diverse group of stakeholders, including city planners, private investors, academics, entrepreneurs and public officials, to help maximize the social and economic value of the community’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Merging their collective expertise, the coalition can help to develop community programs that identify new ways to stimulate, support and “scale up” new and existing ventures.

Verifone Investors Seeks Answers

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Law Offices of Howard G. Smith is investigating potential claims against VeriFone Systems on possible violations to federal securities. Focusing on allegations that certain statements issued by VeriFone between December 14, 2011 and February 19, 2013 were false and misleading regarding the Company’s operations and financial performance, the investigation is related to allegations Verifone failed to execute on its plan to move to a more subscriptions-based service model, past acquisitions had masked what was happening at the Company and Verifone accounting recognition having been overly aggressive.

On February 20, 2013, VeriFone announced its preliminary financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2013. The Company announced that it expected first quarter adjusted earnings of $0.47 to $0.57 per share on revenue of $424 million, well below analysts’ profit forecast of $0.73 per share on revenue of $492 million. The Company also announced a new revenue recognition policy which prevented it from recognizing revenues that quarter from distributors in the Middle East and Africa. The next day, February 21, 2013, VeriFone shares fell $13.65 from the previous day’s close of $31.89 per share, to a closing price of $18.24 per share, on extremely heavy trading volume.

TPC to Offer Comprehensive Web Enablement Solution

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The Principal Consulting (TPC) has assembled a partnership of leading e-commerce companies to help retailers build a comprehensive online shopping experience based on SAP’s Web Channel Experience Management (WCEM) 3.0. With SAP’s Web Channel Experience Management 3.0 as a foundation, TPC, an expert SAP services consultant, provides services and solution design to customize and enhance WCEM to fit retailers’ individual applications. SAP WCEM 3.0 delivers end-to-end processes for e-commerce, e-marketing, e-service, and web channel analytics on a web channel platform that’s easily extensible, allowing customers and partners to build in their business specifics. Version 3.0 also offers the simple, attractive, and responsive customer-facing user interface that customers expect of any web shop.

DFC Announces Disappointing Fiscal Third Quarter

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[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] DFC Global financial services for the unbanked and under-banked announced selected, preliminary financial results for its fiscal quarter ended March 31 with an adjusted EBITDA of between $52 to $54 million. Company lowers its fiscal 2013 diluted operating earnings guidance, which excludes any one-time charges or gains that may occur, the…

Restaurant Manager POS Sees Growing Implementation

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Action Systems Restaurant POS and long-time leaders in mobile POS solutions for restaurants announced that diverse restaurant concepts around the world are now running Restaurant Manager v18 software on the iPad and iPad Mini. The announcement highlights the latest addition to ASI’s wireless POS offerings and marks a ten-year milestone in a mobile POS product line that was first launched in 2003. Restaurant Manager has long been a leader in mobile POS solutions with features like the Write-On Handheld wireless ordering and payment system for the iPod Touch, and the RM Monitor remote reporting app.

NCR Silver Announces Social Media Integration Solution

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NCR Silver mobile POS solution has been enhanced to empower small business owners to provide marketing messages to customers via the NCR Silver email marketing engine and update businesses’ Facebook pages with the same messages at the same time. The NCR Silver social media update makes marketing to customers easier, with more impact, than ever before. With one click, small business owners can now engage in email marketing campaigns and at the same time update their businesses’ Facebook page with the same messages about their business or products. The integrated social media marketing saves small business owners time, streamlines their marketing efforts and empowers them to build a community of customers, which in turn drives loyalty and sales. NCR Silver’s cloud-based architecture enables this social media integration update to deploy automatically to existing NCR Silver customers and is included in all new installations for new customers. Earlier in the month NCR Silver was updated to provide business owners with the ability to launch and manage gift card programs.

Outstanding Card Debit Way Down from ’09, ’10 Figures

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[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”0″ ihc_mb_template=”1″] With the total outstanding revolving US consumer credit down 5.1% in December to $849.8B, it posted .1% growth in January to $850.9B. Although rather stagnant against recent months, January credit outstanding is way up on the year ago figure of $800.9B. This is still better than the 2009 and 2010 figures,…

U.S. Government Migrates SS Benefits With ePayments Option

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The Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and Hudson Institute released the “Double Duty: Payments Cards as a Doorway to Greater Financial Health” report. Illustrating the potential e-payments to help government benefit recipients improve their financial health and capability through access to more information about their benefit payment, the report shows in January over 62 million consumers received Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits. Of this figure, 90.8% used direct deposit, 3.6 percent used the Direct Express prepaid card, and 5.6 percent received a check. Virtually all 22.3 million recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) receive their benefits via monthly loads to payment cards. About 8.2% of U.S. households (17 million adults) do not have a bank account. When recipients are required to receive their benefits electronically, those who cannot choose direct deposit receive the default choice instead”a prepaid debit card.