FBS software, a unit of Atlanta-based Equifax Inc., has agreed to develop and market open systems software for Visa International's debit card products.
The software, which will be based on a Unix software product known as Multixpac, will support both Visa's on-line product, known as Interlink, and its off-line product, known as Visa Chek.
Open systems is a computer architecture which enables computer platforms from different vendors to work together effectively.
"The FBS-Multixpac-Unix agreement is an important development enabling Visa members to rapidly advance the support for deposit access products on all major processing platforms," said Linda Mock, executive vice president of Visa International, in a statement.
FBS, also based in Atlanta, will concentrate on upgrading Mult-ixpac's message capabilities to bring it in line with the requirements of Interlink.
French Marketing Partner
Once that is completed, FBS will market the software internationally in conjunction with Tecnicob, a Paris-based company.
More than 100 financial institutions worldwide currently use Multixpac.
The marketing agreement is pan of an international expansion of Interlink that Visa began last year. -- Matt Barthel
