I got my reader from Amex the other day, but haven't yet installed it. Yet another gizmo will be hanging off my PC unless...
Tuesday December 5, 9:54 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: American Express and Compaq Computer Corporation
American Express and Compaq Team Up to Deliver Increased Convenience And Security for Online Shoppers With Smart Card-Enabled PC Keyboard
American Express Offers Compaq Smart Card Keyboard To Consumer and Small Business Blue Customers
NEW YORK, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the holiday online shopping season, American Express (NYSE: AXP - news) and Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) announced that they have joined to make Compaq Smart Card Keyboards available to customers of Blue from American Express and Blue for Business, both traditional credit cards with a smart chip that enhances online security.
``American Express and Compaq share the commitment to help our customers make the most of the Internet,'' said Mike Pocock, Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Personal Computing Group at Compaq Computer Corp. ``Convenient and affordable, Compaq's Smart Card Keyboard helps make online shopping more secure for individuals and small businesses.''
Specially priced at $59.95 for Blue customers, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is a standard PC-compatible keyboard with a built-in smart card reader, ideally suited for individuals and small businesses that desire enhanced security during online transactions. In addition, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard provides extra convenience to customers, since an additional piece of hardware is no longer needed when using a smart card with a PC.
``Today's announcement continues the evolution of the smart card market,'' said Martin Wittwer, Vice President, Smart Card Enterprise Development at American Express. ``We are delighted to work with Compaq to help make smart cards a standard part of desktop computing and provide Blue customers with even greater convenience.''
The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is a full-sized, 104-key keyboard that provides customers with enhanced online security through smart card authentication. The smart card reader is located on the right-hand side of the keyboard. When customers of Blue from American Express and Blue for Business wish to shop online, they simply insert Blue into the keyboard's smart card reader. The Cardmember is prompted to enter a PIN. The digital certificate stored on the Blue smart chip is read once the PIN is verified. This two-factor security -- the PIN in combination with the digital certificate stored on the chip -- authenticates the Cardmember, enhancing online security.
The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard meets smart card industry standards, including EMV and PCSC, allowing Blue, as well as other smart cards that meet these standards, to be used with the keyboard.
Cardmembers of Blue and Blue for Business can order the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard at americanexpress.com and americanexpress.com, or they can search for the words, ``Compaq'' or ``keyboard,'' on the site. The keyboard carries a one-year warranty. Requirements include Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT along with 5MB of disk space, 8MB of RAM and a serial port connection. American Express will continue to offer free its current peripheral smart card reader for those customers who choose to have an additional hardware device. For individuals and small businesses that are not customers of Blue from American Express, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is also available for $77.00 at directplus.compaq.com. Once on the site, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard can be located through ``Options'' followed by ``Security Devices'' or ``Input Devices.''
About American Express
American Express is committed to making e-commerce safe and easy for customers, and is developing innovative solutions that safeguard customers online. The company recently announced Private Paymentssm, a new way to pay online using a random, unique number for each online purchase. In addition, Blue from American Express was the first wide-scale roll-out of a smart card in the U.S. American Express Company (http://www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel, financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.
About Compaq Computer Corporation
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the largest supplier of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs.
Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses, through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to businesses and consumers through Compaq's e-commerce Web site at compaq.com. Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers from the business, home, government, and education sectors. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products and services are available at www.compaq.com.
Compaq is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, component shortages, slow acceptance for new form factors, employee retention, disruptions related to restructuring actions, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, and emerging market political or economic instability. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on form 10-K and the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Further information on factors that could affect American Express' financial results is included in American Express Company's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: American Express and Compaq Computer Corporation |
