Cards

PayPal Inc.’s Oct. 26 announcement that its transactions would be integrated into VeriFone Systems Inc.’s mobile point-of-sale product after Jan. 1 is a clear sign PayPal wants to move beyond e-commerce transactions, observers say (see story).

Thirty-two Rhode Island government organizations will use payment-processing services from Point & Pay LLC integrated into Opal Data Technologies Inc. software, Point & Pay announced Nov. 16.

Mobile-payments provider Zong Inc. has entered the Philippines market through partnership agreements with mobile carriers Globe Telecom Ltd. and Smart Communications Ltd., the U.S.-based company announced Nov. 17.

The steep entry fee for the prepaid Kardashian card–or “Kard”–sends a clear message: this is the luxury prepaid card. VIPs only.

VeriFone Systems Inc. and Hypercom Corp. have set aside their differences, announcing this morning an agreement in which VeriFone will acquire the competing point-of-sale terminal maker in an all-stock transaction valued at $485 million, including net debt VeriFone would assume.

Mitek Systems, fresh off some major wins for its mobile technology, announced yesterday it broke into the black for its fiscal fourth quarter to the tune of a $180,000 net, compared to a $328,000 loss for the fourth quarter last year.

Recent developments suggest 2011 will be the year that mobile payments take hold in the United States in a big way.

PayNearMe Inc. is launching a reusable payment card option for consumers who prefer to use cash to pay for online purchases, loan payments and utility bills, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company announced on Nov. 16.

The 200 million wireless subscribers connected to AT&T Inc., T-Mobile USA Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. may not be enough for the companies’ mobile payments joint venture to succeed; it still needs to attract large banks and merchants, one analyst says.

Discover Financial Services is still struggling to reach “the last mile” of full U.S. merchant acceptance as many retail locations fall short in promoting the brand at the point of sale, Roger Hochschild, Discover president and chief operating officer, told analysts on Nov. 16.

First American Payment Systems LP has signed Lenoir, N.C.-based Parkway Bank as its 26th referral-bank partner, the Fort Worth, Texas-based independent sales organization announced Nov. 9.

ANZ Bank Ltd. on Nov. 15 launched the ANZ Rugby World Cup MasterCard credit card, marking the country’s first contactless “tap and go” credit card.

AT&T Inc., T-Mobile USA Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. on Nov. 16 unveiled Isis, their long-rumored mobile payments joint venture that will route contactless transactions over Discover Financial Services’ network.

Verizon Wireless, AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA will unveil more details on their joint venture to create a mobile payment network, which will be financially backed by Barclays PLC and Discover Financial Services, as soon as Tuesday, according to people familiar with the situation, Dow Jones is reporting.

Up to eight retailers in the next few weeks plan to launch First Data Corp’s Facebook application that enables uses to send funds to individuals using “virtual” prepaid gift cards, the transaction processor tells PaymentsSource.

Colorado State University has launched a revised campus card designed to enhance access to on-campus vendors and venues.

Co-Op Financial Services is enhancing its at-home remote deposit-capture service to enable credit unions to reach out to small-business owners who might want to electronically submit checks without visiting a branch, the company announced Nov. 15.

In detecting merchant fraud, sometimes less is more.

Ixaris Systems Ltd. announced three payment applications Friday for its Opn platform.

Consumers have yet to widely adopt bill payment on smartphones — a trend some say is typical of new bill-pay systems.