Sector news--New Zealand--Ecard/Visa.

http://www.idg.net.nz/pressroom.nsf/UNID/452C4681DAA884ABCC256B9E0023F679!opendocument
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ECard approved as Visa certified systems integrator
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Monday, 22 April, 2002
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PRESS RELEASE
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Visa has approved ECard as a certified systems integrator for Visa Member Banks. Visa's certification establishes ECard as an approved service provider for the preparation, processing and distribution of chip card personalisation data.
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"Visa certification helps position ECard as an attractive outsourcing option for a range of card issuers," said Chris Fendley, CEO, ECard.
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In giving its certification, Visa has approved ECard's mass issuance system, which is the basis of its systems integration. "The mass issuance system is a unique, flexible solution which provides a common platform to enable rapid delivery of multi-application smart cards into the market. It is designed to work with multiple card issuers and provide them with a tailored solution for card chip personalisation."
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A unique aspect of ECard's system is that it remotely prepares, processes and delivers data securely in real time. This means ECard has the opportunity to leverage its infrastructure for the Asian market and provide card issuers in the Asian region with a cost-effective solution that can be rapidly deployed.
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ECard will also leverage its Visa certification by marketing its flexible solution to a wide range of industries including education, health, transport and telecommunications as well as other banking and finance organisations.
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Chris Fendley said, "Over the next five years, all credit and debit cards in the Asia Pacific region will need to be chip-enabled. This will create a high demand for our rapid deployment service."
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Vipin Kalra, head of chip cards, Visa International said, "ECard offers Visa Members a total solution for the data preparation and personalisation of multi-application smart cards remotely and securely. This makes ECard an important component to the Visa Smart Payment product offering. We are pleased to herald its capabilities to our Members in the region."
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ECard's common platform reduces the cost of investment for stakeholders, allowing for smaller multiple card issuers to benefit.
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By the end of 2002 ECard hopes to be able to provide post-issuant support to card issuers, thereby providing card holders with the ability to download information and applications from a variety of web terminals like automatic teller machines, Internet and point of sale terminals.
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