TERMINAL MANUFACTURERS
Ingenico introduces ViewSafe for UK chip and PIN entry
‘Shoulder surfers’ who try to watch people keying in their PINs at the POS are about to get the shrug off with the introduction of ‘ViewSafe’ by Ingenico UK and Secure Access Solutions.
The device, which has been successfully trialling at Boots the Chemist
in Cambridge, is set to be introduced nationwide. Taking the form of
a magnifying case around the terminal, ‘ViewSafe’ distorts
the view available from any other angle by a casual observer, CCTV
or hidden cameras, thus frustrating would-be surfers and more sophisticated
fraudsters.
“ViewSafe is a breakthrough solution that cuts off yet another avenue to fraudsters. In the coming months Ingenico will be working closely with SAS to drive the introduction of the device and tailor it for different environments,” says Ingenico northern Europe MD Nick Parsons.
The magnifying case was developed by SAS, a University of Warwick spin-out company, whose agreement with Ingenico will see the device being introduced worldwide. The magnifying lens has the added benefit of assisting pensioners and others who find PIN pads difficult to use.
Says SAS founder Neil Radford: “The enhanced view is of great
value to any user standing directly in front of the key pad, because
ViewSafe delivers an extra layer of security and improved accessibility
in one simple, easy-to-use device. We are delighted that three years
of careful and detailed research and product development has now come
to fruition and is being very positively received.”
“Boots is constantly looking for ways to improve customer accessibility
and security, which is why we are interested
in helping to trial this device,” says Clive Barber of Boots
Operations: “In addition
to the security benefits we believe this device
could benefit our partially sighted customers, improving their experience
of shopping with chip and PIN.” 
Copenhagen rolls out Thales parking terminals
Thales e-Transactions has been chosen by Siemens Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) to supply the City of Copenhagen with 1,500 unattended payment terminals for installation in pay and display parking machines. This is the first project of its kind in Denmark, which may well be extended to other Danish cities and to Sweden.
Artema Modular, the unattended card payment solution from Thales,
accepts the local Danish debit card, Dankort, as well as all international
payment cards, whether chip or magstripe. The project also allowed
the first online authorization worldwide for an unattended credit card
transaction using GPRS connectivity.
The initial pilot has been successfully completed and the pay and display machines are now in roll-out. The electronic payment solution will replace the city’s existing cash-only parking systems.
“As the first ever electronic payment project within Denmark’s
parking sector, this implementation shows how
parking operators are increasingly taking advantage of unattended card
payments to provide customers with greater flexibility,” says
Christian Reiling, VP and MD for the e-Transactions activities of Thales
Security solutions and services division.
VeriFone wins key approval as
NYC taxis roll out card acceptance
VeriFone says its payment systems are among the first to be approved
for full-scale roll-out in the New York City
Taxi & Limousine Commission’s
(TLC) effort to upgrade the city’s 13,000 medallion yellow taxicabs
by installing customer-orientated payment and
information systems.
To date, the commission has approved the installation of payment card readers manufactured by four vendors: Creative, VeriFone, Taxi Technology Corp and Digital Dispatch Systems. Only Creative and VeriFone have embedded contactless readers.
The TLC has mandated that from October 1 2007, on their next scheduled inspection, all New York taxis will have implemented technology-based customer service improvements which must include an interactive electronic passenger map and information screen, as well as readers accepting Visa, MasterCard and American Express magstripe cards, receipt printers and information screens where passengers may enter tips.
Systems implemented by VeriFone Transportation Systems are the first to obtain a formal Notice to Proceed from the TLC, authorizing installation and use in any of the 13,000 licensed cabs in the city.
“We are pleased to be first to meet the standards set by the TLC in its efforts to enhance customer service in New York City,” comments VeriFone CEO Douglas Bergeron: “These systems provide the most dynamic, reliable and durable solution for owners and operators of taxis and limousines, and we look forward to working with them to make this new system a win-win for everyone.”
The VeriFone-based solution uses wireless technology to provide integrated
payment in the passenger cab, including a card
swipe and contactless payment for credit and debit payment of fares,
in an ATM style interface. Passengers have the option to select a pre-set
tip from a list of choices, or input their own amount.