BANK tech-trends News
 

 January 5, 2009 - January 9, 2009

• 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

Intel and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies have teamed up to make flash-based solid state drives (SSD) used in computer servers and storage. Intel will be the only supplier of flash for Hitachi Data systems. Intel also announced that it is expanding its X25-M 2.5-in. and X18-M 1.8-in. SATA SSD family with a 160GB drive in a 2.5-in. size.

Toshiba is to ramp up production of a new type of Lithium Ion battery that can charge to 90 percent of its capacity in a few minutes and is highly-resistant to short circuits. The Super Charge Ion Battery (SCIB) is a Lithium Ion battery based on proprietary technology developed by the company and means that a laptop should be able to run its lifetime on the SCIB without need to replace the battery. Production of the battery, which has been in development for several years, has already begun for the industrial market. 

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ATMs/Kiosks

At the recent ADT Financial Security Symposium there were a wide range of security topics discussed by speakers and attendees, including ATM security. Many attendees from large banks noted an increase of attacks using heavy duty equipment such as over-sized forklifts and full size front-end loaders. To counter this, some facilities are being retrofitted to prevent frontal attacks on the ATMs. Some are considering a hinged, "flip-back" design that nullifies the ramming power of the heavy duty equipment, while others have undertaken efforts to build massive steel cages around the ATMs to prevent them from being lifted out of their location.

The Barclays branch at Piccadilly Circus in London is the first institution to incorporate Microsoft Surface technology. Microsoft's Surface technology enable visitors to grab digital content with their hands and navigate information about Barclays' accounts with simple gestures and touches. A large self-service area includes a foreign ATM dispensing dollars and Euros and deposit machines for cash, checks and coins.

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Finger vein authentication, introduced widely by Japanese banks in the last two years, is claimed to be one of the fastest and most secure biometric methods. Developed by Hitachi, VeinID verifies a person’s identity based on the lattice work of minute blood vessels under the skin. In addition to ATMs, it is also used in door access systems.

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According to a new report from Mercator Advisory Group, payments from remote devices, especially smart phones, are poised to grow from an estimated $389 million in 2009 to $8.6 billion in 2014. Smart phones such as Apple’s iPhone and the Blackberry Storm with their bigger screens and more user-friendly Web browsers than those on conventional cell phones mean new opportunities for one-time payments. Mercator points out that the number of users of the mobile Web, currently estimated at 40 million, could rise by 50% in 2009, and that 75% of mobile subscribers use data services.

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As the economy sours, more consumers are trying to pass counterfeit bills. The Secret Service notes that the holidays are a particularly popular time for counterfeit notes as many cashiers are overwhelmed with long lines. In 2008, the number of arrests for counterfeiting increased 28%, which is the highest increase since 2004. Counterfeiters passed a record $64.4 million in fake bills - a 5% increase over 2007. The spike is attributed to the struggling economy, along with the fact that more technologically advanced printers and scanners make bills easier to duplicate.

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Security:

Protecting Customer Data at Rest and in Motion

CheckFree - http://www.checkfree.com Read Christopher Beier's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CheckFree.pdf

Code Green Networks - http://www.codegreennetworks.com   Read Rod Murchison's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CGN.pdf

e-DMZ Security - http://www.e-dmzsecurity.com   Read Kris Zupan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/e-DMZ.pdf

Gladiator Technology - http://www.gladiatortechnology.com Read Danny Johnston's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Gladiator.pdf

Guardian Analytics - http://www.guardiananalytics.com Read Tom Miltonberger's comments:     http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Guardian.pdf

HEIT - http://www.goheit.com   Read Dan Holt's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Heit.pdf

Integrated Computer Solutions - http://www.icsinc.com   Read Keith Young's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/ICS.pdf

Intrepidus Group - http://www.intrepidusgroup.com   Read Rohyt Belani's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Intrepidus.pdf

Netsecuris - http://www.netsecuris.com   Read Leonard Jacobs' comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Netsecuris.pdf

Network Box - http://www.networkboxusa.com   Read Pierluigi Stella's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/NetworkBox.pdf

Perimeter eSecurity - http://www.perimeterusa.com   Read Kevin Prince's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Perimeter.pdf

Reclamere - http://www.reclamere.com   Read Kevin Doyle's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Reclamere.pdf

Simpler-Webb - http://www.swinc.com   Read Jeff Simpler's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SimplerWebb.pdf

SkyRecon Systems - http://www.skyrecon.com   Read Sean Martin's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SkyRecon.pdf

Software and Management Associates - http://www.smausa.com Read Michael W. Taylor's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SMA.pdf

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According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, falling mortgage rates have pushed mortgage applications in the U.S to a five-year high. The Association’s index of applications to purchase a home or refinance a loan rose to 1,245.7, the highest level since 2003. The average rate on a 30 year fixed rate loan dropped to 5.1%, the lowest level since records began in 1990. Meanwhile, the average on a 15 year, fixed rate mortgage declined to 4.9%, the lowest since March of 2004. 

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Online Resources Corporation's third survey of US bill paying habits reveals how different bills rank in consumers’ stacks, in order of priority:

- Mortgage
- Insurance
- Loans
- Utilities
- Healthcare
- Phone
- Credit Card

Across industries, ORCC's survey results show that one in three households was contacted by a collector in the past year. Preference for resolving delinquencies online has increased by 18 percent over the past year, but only one percent of delinquent households were contacted via the Internet.

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Internet Access

Broadband-over-power-line (BPL) technology has always sounded like a good idea as an affordable alternative to DSL and cable, but it has made little headway. Silicon vendor DS2 has developed a new generation of chips that they believe will drive the technology forward. They have managed to push transmission speeds to 200Mbps, with 400Mbps now being tested. Plus, another recent innovation, called notching, lets the chips switch frequencies when meeting interference. IBM, along with their partner International Broadband Electric Communications, is working with local utilities to supply broadband in rural areas not served by other technologies.

Microsoft's ResponsePoint is a small business PBX replacement in a box. It consists of an XP Embedded-based base station with five or more satellite phones, and targets organizations with 50 or fewer users. It connects to one or two traditional phone lines and uses Ethernet-based network cabling internally for connecting it all together. ResponsePoint isn't a watered down version of an enterprise product, but rather it was conceived and designed specifically for the small business market.

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Call Centers

Why is it so important to have on hold messages or music? Because research by the North American Tele­communications Association shows that 90% of callers on silent hold abandon after 40 seconds. Playing music for callers who are on hold will increase the hold time by 30 seconds; however, the type of music played will have an affect on the perception of delay. According to a study by Avaya, men perceive the wait to be shorter while listening to classical music, while women perceive a longer wait time with the same type of music. Both sexes perceive the wait time to be longer when rock music was played, while “light jazz” created the perception of a shorter wait time. Other studies have shown that the combination of on-hold music with informational messages entices callers to hold for an average of three minutes - and can have the added benefit of boosting sales for products and services covered during the wait time.

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