David Heun

On Oct. 22 the joint venture of AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA will begin its much-publicized launch in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas.

For the past two years, the word "Isis" has meant a few different things for the payments industry. Its meaning will come into focus Oct. 22, when the joint venture will begin its much-publicized launch in Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas.

Consumers who own a debit card issued by their bank definitely prefer that payment method to other options, including alternatives such as PayPal.

Transit systems are a proving ground for payments: they require high-speed, sometimes wireless, and consistently reliable payments. New York’s subways, buses and taxis are constantly testing potential new systems, and not all succeed.

First Data Corp. executive Mark Herrington has joined the board of Internet PIN debit payments provider Acculynk.

Access to a cloud-based security system that banks can use to protect Automated Clearing House transactions and online banking has moved to mobile devices.

Bank of America is offering a service that makes it possible for travelers to retrieve their chip-and-PIN card's forgotten PIN without calling a customer service representative or waiting for a mailed response.

Committees serving an independent organization seeking to help the U.S. payments industry prepare for its conversion to EMV smartcard and contactless technology have begun examining key aspects of the transition.

In the grand scheme of mobile payment readiness and adoption globally, Japan has always been at or near the top of industry measuring sticks. Now one of Japan’s mobile communication giants is partnering with MasterCard Inc. to expand contactless payments worldwide starting in 2013.

Any uncertainty in mobile wallet development fuels speculation in an industry anxious to see what shape mobile commerce will ultimately take. In this industry, products that make it even farther than where Isis is today don't always work out.

Total System Services expanded its payments processing reach this week in Africa and Mexico.

Plastic cards or mobile phones remain popular devices for contactless payment technology developers, but the human wrist is not far behind.

Many in the industry are starting to catch on to the concept that payments, while a critical foundation for mobile wallets, are taking a back seat to the sexier consumer-facing digital coupons, loyalty programs or targeted promotions through a mobile phone.

Heartland Payment Systems continued its mobile payment advancement, recently taking its Mobuyle card reader and software to Apple iOS mobile devices.

To cut the bank’s operating costs at branches, NCR is providing software to SunTrust to allow the bank to receive digital check deposits from multiple remote locations through one channel.

Braintree says its vision for the future of e-commerce received a significant boost when the online and mobile payments provider lured a Google Inc. executive into its fold last month.

Two United Kingdom banks are enrolling customers in a TouchPay trial program in which contactless-enabled sleeves are used on Apple Inc. iPhone 4 and 4S devices.

Payleven has elbowed its way into the crowded mobile card-reader device playing field by offering a chip-and-PIN reader that will first debut in Europe near the end of October.

The key to the success of Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), the payments initiative formed by major retailers, may be merchants' motivation to stay in control of their customer relationships.

Despite what you may have heard, the mobile-payment venture Isis did not launch its long-awaited mobile wallet this week in New Jersey. It is simply supported at the cafeterias of one of its parent's headquarters.