Oberthur Technologies and MasterCard Worldwide have launched MasterCard M/Chip Advance, a technology designed to enhance card payments by incorporating more cardholder and third-party data into transactions, the two companies announced Dec. 22.
The new product, which builds on the existing M/Chip technology, combines contact and contactless functionality on the same platform, which should speed the rollout of dual-interface cards, France-based Oberthur noted in a press release.
M/Chip’s more-robust data-storage capability also will help to expand card capabilities in specific sectors, including transit, loyalty, campuses and government benefits, according to the card maker.
In transit applications, M/Chip enables acceptance of contact and contactless card payments in more-diverse locations than turnstiles, including when a passenger is already onboard, a MasterCard spokesperson tells PaymentSource.
Issuers, transport operators and other card-program providers also can configure the chip to provide instant proof of payment for ticket inspectors, and operators also may set up the platform to quickly confirm entry-exist status to prevent fraudulent ticket pass-back efforts, the MasterCard spokesperson says. M/Chip also has a feature that helps to identify preferential rates for children or other groups eligible for discounted fares.
M/Chip also is useful in vending machine and prepaid card operations, enabling card system providers to display a prepaid card’s balance at the point of sale, according to the MasterCard spokesperson.
“The integration of M/Chip and PayPass on the same platform, using the M/Chip Advance payment card application, will make the rollout of dual-interface cards faster and easier for issuers worldwide,” Cèdric Collomb, general manager of cards and services at Oberthur’s card systems division, said in the press release.
The added data-storage capabilities in particular should “enrich” contact and contactless payment transactions, Dave Meadon, MasterCard group head of chip solutions and engineering, noted in the release.
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