Millions of smart cards are in use today in Latin America and the Caribbean in EMV chip cards, mobile payments, e-passports, smart transit fare cards, secure government, healthcare, enterprise IDs and more. Now the Smart Card Alliance Latin America group has signed a big deal with Florida State University.
Evrofinance Mosnarbank, Union Card payment system and China UnionPay
have partnered to launch a NCC|UC payment system joint project for the
issuance/service of China Union Pay (CUP) plastic cards throughout
Russia. The CUP cards have been designed to allow Russian and Chinese
businessmen/tourists to withdraw cash and use as a debt card easily when
visiting the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China and 26
other countries throughout the world. Cardholders are afforded
acceptance by merchants and cash advances at ATMs of the participant
banks, which are not required to join China UnionPay to service the
cards. Banks, however, must be an associated member under the
sponsorship of Evrofinance Mosnarbank as an alternative to becoming a
distributor of plastic cards for China UnionPay. The China UnionPay
plastic cards will be issued by Evrofinance Mosnarbank starting the
summer of 2008.
A report released by The Consumer Warning Network reveals secret details of a secret credit card marketing agreement between Florida State University and Bank of America. The report alleges while Florida State University is warning students via video to avoid the “credit card monster,” the university forwards names and addresses to Bank of America which then uses that information to market credit cards to FSU students as part of an “exclusive” deal allowing the bank to use FSU’s official colors and symbols. Under the agreement, FSU receives a guarantee form BoA of more than $10 million over 7 years.
Microsoft and smart card innovator CyberMark announced they will jointly work with several customers in the United States to pilot Microsoft’s newest entry to the smart card market, Microsoft Smart Cards for Windows. CyberMark cards enable students on college campuses and employees in corporate facilities to replace cash at numerous points of sale, access physical buildings and computer networks, and link to a wide range of banking, telephony, and customer loyalty functions. Several of CyberMark’s key customers — including Florida State University, Villanova University, and Huntington Bank — have agreed to pilot the CyberMark card utilizing the new Microsoft operating system.
“Microsoft’s entry to the smart-card market validates the market for stored-value cards in the United States and represents a breakthrough in cashless payment technology on an international scale,” said Thomas K. Burke, vice president for CyberMark. “As the market leader in North American stored- value systems, we anticipate rapid acceptance of Smart Cards for Windows in our market segments and look forward to a very successful pilot program.”
CyberMark has been a pioneer in the smart card industry, ascending to its industry leading position by providing customers with multiple application smart cards to solve basic business needs. Microsoft’s entry to the market is seen by many as a significant milestone in the history of the smart card industry. “For CyberMark,” says Mr. Burke, “Microsoft’s involvement provides this industry a partner with unequaled credentials and resources.”
“Smart Cards for Windows was developed to assist organizations such as CyberMark in delivering more economical smart card solutions while supporting evolving industry standards,” said Philippe Goetschel, Microsoft’s Smart Cards for Windows product manager. “The system takes full advantage of proven software development tools such as Visual Basic, enabling applications to be developed quickly to meet business needs. CyberMark will play an important role in establishing Smart Cards for Windows in several North American markets, starting with our pilot systems in key CyberMark accounts in higher education and corporate markets.”
CyberMark () develops smart card solutions for education, corporate, financial, government and entertainment markets. One-half million individuals utilize CyberMark’s multi-application smart cards at installations including the University of Toronto, the University of Kansas, University of Arizona and more than a dozen additional sites. Cardholders conduct smart card based payments using their cards at locations displaying the SmartWorld logo. SmartWorld is a registered trademark of CyberMark.
Gemplus, Motorola, CyberMark and Powertel announced yesterday they will test an upgraded ‘FSUCard’ that enables student cardholders to place and receive calls, pages and short-text messages using Motorola’s new ‘StarTAC’ wireless PCS handset. The Florida State University smart card currently has 37,000 faculty and student cardholders. The ‘FSUCard’ offers four electronic purses for bookstores, laundromats, restaurants and vending machines.