Retailers

As it looks to generate more revenue and to enable issuers of its cards to better analyze their customers’ transactions, MasterCard Worldwide is exploring ways to secure more volume for its processing switch from cards carrying the network’s brand, especially outside the U.S., Chris McWilton, MasterCard president of U.S. Markets, said during a March 1 presentation.

Dwolla, a low-cost mobile-payments provider, has launched of what it is calling the first location-based payment technology, which will enable users to check in at various retailers and use their mobile phones to pay for purchases, the company. announced March 2.

Helped largely by the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, spending by Visa cardholders visiting Canada last year rose 10.3%, to $6.4 billion from $5.8 billion the previous year, Visa Inc. announced Feb. 28.

Payment-terminal maker VeriFone Systems Inc. this afternoon reported net income of $32 million for the fiscal first quarter ended Jan. 31, up 202% from $10.6 million during the same period last year. Revenue was up 27%, to $283.8 million from $223.4 million.

Axis Bank Ltd. has begun offering a service that allows customers to make income-tax payments at its ATMs in India, becoming the country’s first private-sector bank to do so.

Heartland Payment Systems Inc.’s Steve Elefant readily admits software-based payment-acceptance products are less secure than those requiring hardware. But that did not prevent the payments processor from supporting Acculynk Inc.’s PaySecure checkout software, which enables merchants to accept PIN-debit cards online.

Tyfone Inc. is partnering with smartphone-accessory company Dexim Inc. to offer a sleeve that attaches to Apple Inc.’s iPhone to support contactless payments worldwide using Tyfone’s SideTap microSD chip technology, the companies announced Feb. 28.

Approximately 57% of vending-machine operators plan to add or expand their use of cashless payments this year, while only 8% likely will not add payment card acceptance to their machines, new survey data suggest.

Demonstrating a way to make money on a service many banks view as a cost, Hearst Corp. on Feb. 28 launched a beta version of its bill presentment and payment site Manilla.com.

Oberthur Technologies of America Corp. is in talks with U.S. issuers planning to migrate their debit and credit card portfolios to EMV chip-and-PIN technology “over the next couple of quarters,” an executive for the card manufacturer tells PaymentsSource.

Cartera Commerce Inc. has integrated Groupon Inc.’s daily deals into its merchant network to enable consumers to earn rewards by purchasing a Groupon deal, Cartera Commerce reported earlier this month.

Hypercom Corp.’s shareholders have approved the $485 million merger with VeriFone Systems Inc., Hypercom announced Feb. 24.

Arcos Dorados, which manages McDonald’s restaurants in Latin America, plans to use payment software from VeriFone Systems Inc., the companies announced Feb. 28.

Citizens of Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala may pay their property taxes online under an initiative launched Feb. 22

For nearly every sales force in nearly every industry, selling based on price can be a losing game; someone is always willing to sell for less.

The company behind the eBillme online-payment system has announced a partnership with Discover Financial Services that furthers the alternative payments provider’s strategy of aligning itself with mainstream players.

The Federal Reserve Board’s proposed new debit-interchange rates are unlikely to go into effect this summer without some significant changes, the co-chief of a large ISO speculates.

The Central Bank of Kenya has established new regulations for the country’s mobile funds-transfer market designed to protect consumers and mitigate market risk, a spokesperson for the bank tells PaymentsSource.

VeriFone Systems Inc.’s pending acquisition of rival terminal maker Hypercom Corp. moved a step closer Feb. 24 as Hypercom announced its shareholders had approved the companies’ merger agreement.

In 2012, London will become the first city where domestic and international consumers may access an entire transportation network using open-loop, network-branded contactless credit or debit cards, the Transport for London announced Feb. 24.