Rite Aid Chain to Use Verifone Smart Cards

Verifone Inc. said it is providing smart card technology to the Rite Aid retail chain for a program being rolled out in 3,900 stores nationwide.

The program, "Rite Cash," is designed to replace paper gift certificates with chip cards. The cards are disposable, not reloadable, but Rite Aid hopes to encourage customer loyalty with quicker, more convenient transactions.

"The service from the card is faster. There is no authorization delay," said Ken Paull, general manager of Verifone's retail division.

The Santa Clara, Calif., subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard Co. is providing SC 250 modular smart card adapters at points of sale. Rite Aid may later use the devices to read other smart cards that might be issued by Visa or MasterCard banks.

"They help position Rite Aid for the future of smart cards," said Mr. Paull.

Rite Aid has been testing the program for a year and plans to have the Verifone adapters in all stores within a few months.

Mr. Paull said Verifone is working on similar pilot programs with other retailers, which he declined to name.

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