Friday April 11 12:07 AM EDT
Verifone Inc to announce global link-ups
SYDNEY, April 11 (Reuter) - U.S. electronic payment software and hardware group VeriFone Inc
planned to announce partnerships with several global banking and non-banking groups within the
next two to four weeks, a VeriFone executive said on Friday.
"In the next two to four weeks, we'll be making some key announcements on partners on a global
basis," VeriFone Inc Consumer Systems Vice President Tom Kilcoyne told a news conference in
Sydney.
Kilcoyne was in Australia to launch the personal automatic teller machine (PATM) previously
launched on a trial basis in the United States.
He said VeriFone was negotiating with a number of bank and non-bank players that could include
computer software, computer hardware, internet, telecommunications, credit card and airline groups.
VeriFone had worked with Netscape ( ncsp ), Oracle Corp , and Microsoft in the past to set up
networks for its "smart card" payment systems, he said.
Kilcoyne said the global partnerships would be with groups that have significant Australian
operations.
VeriFone aimed to jointly market the PATMs into homes, so that consumers could load up "virtual
cash" onto smart cards and use the smart card terminals to pay for goods and services on the
Internet.
Kilcoyne said VeriFone was also working with electronic cash groups like Mondex, owned by a
consortium of banks, and VisaCash.
The PATMS could be connected using normal telephone connections or through personal
computers equiped with modems. They could also be used with set-top cable systems, mobile
phones and paging systems.
VeriFone Australasia Managing Director Ken Hansen said VeriFone was in discussions with various
Australian banking, telecommunications and one airline group to form alliances to market the system.
The "smart cards" could be used with customer loyalty programmes like the "Fly-buys" frequent flyer
programmes used by Australian retailer Coles Myer Ltd CML.AX and airline group Qantas
Airways Ltd QAN.AX .
"There are four or five good prospects for launching this product in Australia," Hansen said, adding
that agreements could be finalised and the product launched within three to six months.
He said VeriFone was negotiating with one or more of the larger Australian banks.
-- Sydney Newsroom 61-2 9373-1800 |
