BANK tech-trends News
 

 September 8 - September 12, 2008

• Hardware News
• Software Updates
• ATMs/Kiosks
• Biometric Digest Highlights
• Wireless World
• Security Section
• Leaders Roundtable
• Technology and Marketing
• Online Banking/E-Commerce/
  Website Design
• Internet Access
• Call Centers

Hardware News

The Speed Dome camera from DIGITUS is a versatile surveillance camera that comes equipped with a motion-sensitive tracking mode. The 22x optical zoom enables the surveillance of property from a great distance, and provides high-resolution images. In addition to video signals, audio signals can also be transmitted with the aid of the optional microphone. The camera is controlled by the Central Management System (CMS) also included as part of the package, which can control up to 16 cameras simultaneously and allows access from several computers. The Speed Dome Camera DN-16055 runs around $900.

Back to Top

Back to Top

ATMs/Kiosks

Retail Banking Research (RBR) has just published the latest edition of their global ATM survey, ‘Global ATM Market and Forecasts to 2013’. The 170 country report shows that last year, the worldwide ATM market grew by more than ever before – undermining reports that the days of cash are numbered. In more mature ATM markets, growth in new locations has slowed, but there has been healthy demand for replacement units, often upgrading terminals to higher specifications and more advanced functionality. For example in the mature North American market, the total proportion of shipments represented by replacements is more than 90%, and is set to rise to 99% by 2013 as the deployment of new installations stalls. 

Toronto-based Smart Processing Solutions has launched SmartIssuerPro which is card-issuing and management software designed to let banks issue and manage their own debit, prepaid, and credit card programs in-house. SmartIssuerPro also can be integrated with the Smart Processing Suite family of solutions to deliver an end-to-end transaction switching, processing and authorization solution.

Back to Top

Tampa-based Ceelox has adapted Ceelox ID, a biometric Identity Access Management (IAM) tool, to work with Citrix servers and client computers. Ceelox ID does not require the system administrator to either change or create new accounts for users. It searches for the bio-templates on both local and server computers, allowing users to log on to their computers even when the server is not available. Users slide their finger for LAN, program and website access. Ceelox says that Ceelox ID is the first biometric IAM tool to allow multiple Citrix clients to work transparently with as many Citrix servers as necessary.

Back to Top

Visa announced that it has 14 international mobile payment trials or tests underway that mostly involve near-field communication (NFC) payment technology on cell phones, transit cards and other assorted form factors. Visa's U.S. mobile efforts have entailed testing handsets with embedded contactless payment chips and pilots of alerts and offers using text messaging. "Our strategy is a global channel strategy that can be customized for the specific needs of a given market," a Visa spokesperson said.

Contactless RFID is well established for access control for buildings, and it is making headway around the world for so called ‘biometric passports’ and contactless credit cards. However a British company called Peratech says that contactless skimming can be done without the owner even being aware that it has happened. In response, they have developed a very thin, pressure-sensitive switch that can be embedded into a credit card or passport. Only when the switch is squeezed by the owner will the device become active. 

Back to Top

The vice chairman of TJX is claiming that the massive data breach at TJX could have been prevented if the American electronic payment system utilized Europe and Asia's strategy of embedding payment cards with Chip-and-PIN technology. In recommending additional encryption of payment card data as it is transferred between retailers and banks, the TJX executive suggests that card companies, retailers, and banks split the costs of upgrading to a Chip-and-PIN system. 

Panda Security has noted an increase in the deployment of malware under the guise of 'antivirus products' to defraud users. These applications, classified as adware by PandaLabs, pass themselves off as antivirus utilities and often appear on the Internet as free downloads. Alternatively, they can be concealed in other files downloaded by users, including music or video files. Once on a system, they tell the user that a virus has been detected. They then invite them to buy the full version of the 'antivirus software' to 'disinfect' the computer. If users don’t purchase the antivirus, it continues displaying non-existent infections and pop-ups inviting users to purchase the security software, which in reality does not detect or delete anything. 

Back to Top

Online Banking:

Online Banking... Catering to Your Most Desirable Customers

Digital Resolve - http://www.digital-resolve.net Read Dennis Maicon's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/DigitalResolve.pdf

Exstream - http://www.exstream.com   Read Jerry Driscoll's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Exstream.pdf

Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com Read Marley Gray's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Microsoft.pdf

Open Solutions - http://www.opensolutions.com   Read Michael D. Nicastro's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/OSI.pdf

Piraeus Bank - http://www.piraeusbank.gr   Read Sotiris Sirmakezis' comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Piraeus.pdf

uMonitor - http://www.umonitor.com   Read Dinesh Sheth's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/uMonitor.pdf

Back to Top

Seattle business-intelligence software vendor Tableau has released the 4.0 version of its data visualization tools, emphasizing the product's ease of use and ability to apply data against maps. The software can take any data file that contains geographic fields, such as a zip code, and automatically detect the presence of those fields, geo-code it, present it on a map. Tableau Desktop pricing is $999 per user; this version can tap Excel, Access and text files. The professional edition is $1,800 per user and connects to a wider range of sources. 

Back to Top

Small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly turning to credit cards as an alternative to bank loans for financing expansion plans and other needs, especially as banks tighten their credit standards. The National Small Business Association (NSBA) says the percentage of companies that use credit cards has climbed from 16% in 1993 to 44% today; meanwhile, the percentage of small businesses using traditional loans fell from 45% to 28% over that same time. 

A new survey of more than 7,600 consumers reveals that cardholders are the most satisfied with American Express credit cards, followed by Discover credit cards. The study measured customer satisfaction by examining interaction; billing and payment process; fees and rates; reward programs; and benefits and services. The second annual J.D. Power and Associates "2008 Credit Card Satisfaction Study" found that American Express scored 783 on a 1,000-point scale and Discover scored 751. The research also discovered that 72% of all cardholders participate in some type of reward program. Cash rewards are the most common type of reward redeemed and the second-most satisfying type of reward. Hotel stays are the most satisfying type of reward. 

Back to Top

Internet Access

Nortel announced that it is expanding its unified communications portfolio to provide for the Web 2.0 world. Nortel says that their Interactive Communications Portal (ICP) includes features such as IM, email and click-to-call that can be added to self-service and speech applications to expand service options beyond menu-driven interactive voice response (IVR). The software-only solution is built on Nortel's Media Application Server, a multimedia-processing platform that provides extensive support for conferencing, messaging, and interactive voice/video response features.

Back to Top

Call Centers

Five9 offers a call center portfolio that includes solutions that are feature-rich and affordable. The company successfully supports distributed agents around the world and claims that within 72 hours, agents can be provisioned, trained and up and running. The company’s Virtual Call Center provides a common, unifying platform for agents regardless of geographic location. Offered as an on-demand service, Five9 says that its system delivers results without capital costs, expensive infrastructure or leased phone lines.

Back to Top