Fime gets EMVCo contactless qualification in North America

EMVCo is the EMV standard body for credit and debit payment cards based on chip card technology. It has an established certification program to confirm products meet the requirements outlined in the EMV Specifications. This promotes increased levels of confidence that EMV products will perform as intended and ensure interoperability between payment devices.

"With EMV Contactless being mandated by major payment schemes and the U.S. working towards its EMV migration deadlines, it is vital that on-the-ground EMV testing and certification can be offered," explains Xavier Giandominici, Director at FIME America. "We are delighted to now have an EMVCo qualified test bench and to be able to offer these services on-site in Montreal, allowing us to meet the ever-growing demand from regionally-based customers. We believe that this investment will increase capacity and ensure shorter testing cycles."

This announcement follows the opening of FIME's U.S. office in San Francisco earlier this year. Pascal Le Ray, General Manager of FIME Group, adds: "With laboratories across Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia and America, FIME has developed a vast knowledge and skills-base globally and recognizes the value of sharing expertise at this high level. Having local proximity to our customers, however, is key to truly understanding and engaging in local challenges and regional variations. We are dedicated to not only expanding our local footprint, but ensuring these operations offer the testing and certification services local stakeholders need."

Xavier concludes: "This is an exciting time for the payments industry in the U.S. as we transition to a chip-based infrastructure, which can support advance payment methods and offer consumers the choice to make contactless mobile payments. FIME is already working with many of its customers to bring these innovative solutions to market."

FIME America partners with a number of leading schemes and industry bodies to provide certifications and enhance the secure chip ecosystem. FIME's Montreal laboratory now offers American Express, Isis, MasterCard Mobile certifications as well as card and terminal testing for Discover Zip, Interac Dual Interface, STAR Certiflash and MasterCard PayPass?. FIME also contributes to the EMV Migration Forum initiative to share its secure chip knowledge and support the U.S. in streamlining its certification processes.

In April this year, we talked about the possibility of a smartphone being used to hijack a plane, although that does sound rather far-fetched when you think about it, and we ought to have had cases of that happening by now if it were to be true. Well, here we are with reports that the Dutch public transportation system could be hacked using Android-powered smartphones, thanks to a couple of Android apps which could very well crack the RFID chip within fare smartcards.

This bit of information hailed from a report from NOS.nl, where the two free apps are required to enable the cracker to load the card with credit, allowing them to travel without having to fork out a single cent. There was not much detail revealed concerning the nature of the hack, but it seems that the chip which resides within the card is involved in a cat-and-mouse game. The card’s creator, Trans Link, has changed it numerous times, but you will find a veritable tome of information online where tutorials depict how to hack these cards, including the different generations of chips inside. What do you think of this story, does it hold any water for you?

SD Association has added Single Wire Protocol to support NFC features and assist in the introduction of new business models that will provide a secure element to the microSD memory card—the smartSD memory card.

The smartSD card can shift control of consumers’ service applications from provider to consumers, as well as provide authentication services. The cards will be manufactured by SD Association members in SD, SDHC and SDXC capacities.

Cards can be purchased by or issued to consumers from any service provider. Service providers will be able to differentiate their offerings, addressing mobile customers, device manufacturers and proprietary application stores.

“Completing the enhancement to smartSD marks the achievement of a strategy announced in 2011 to find new markets that would benefit from SD standards,” Brian Kumagai, the president of the SD Association, said. “Adding smart-chip technology to microSD memory cards gives SD equipped smart phones and phablets new consumer conveniences whether they’re connected to the Internet or not. We know consumers want more flexibility to expand their storage needs, and a simple way to participate in a variety of value-added services offered by a variety of companies and institutions today.”

Calling cards are obtainable globally and everyone knows them well, they have been there for the past few decades, When you acquire a calling card, you are purchasing your call time up advanced, referred to as your “call credit” This credit is tied to your calling card bill and will be deducted by the minute at the rate for your call destination.

Rates vary from provider to provider, you should make proper investigation before buying one, keep in mind the rates of the destination state from the land you are calling from. Also some calling cards have special rates for calls to certain countries like Calling Canada from the USA or calling India from the UK. Assure that you are taking one which suits your need. Click on their website www.artsunlight.com for more information.