BANK tech-trends News
 

June 15, 2009 - June 19, 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

Dell and CommVault Systems announced their first integrated data management appliance with embedded block-level deduplication - the Dell PowerVault DL2000. The DL2000 server, which comes bundled with CommVault Simpana 8 software, has up to 144TB of usable disk capacity and is targeted at small- to medium-sized businesses. The appliance is designed as an all-in-one disk-based backup appliance with de-duplication and improved management of virtualized environments. The companies say that the new version of the PowerVault offers a deduplication ratio of up to 20:1.

Hewlett-Packard's new ProLiant SL Extreme Scale-Out (ExSO) line is geared towards larger organizations. The ProLiant SL160z G6 is optimized for applications that benefit from a large memory cache; the ProLiant 170z G6 is optimized for large storage, such as for database applications; and the ProLiant SL2x170z is optimized for compute density, such as for Web front-end applications. Physically they can be described as a sort of horizontal blade server, although HP calls them "skinless servers." The servers go into a new 2U z6000 chassis that then goes into a standard rack.

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ATMs/Kiosks

Triton Systems has released a new remote key transport (RKT) solution for ATMs. Triton says that they are the first ATM manufacturer to bring this cost-savings solution and security feature to the off-premise ATM market. With the RKT system in place, rather than having to pay two people to manually enter keys, the remote key transport solution will use cryptography to allow ATM deployers to remotely load keys directly from the host to the ATM across a public network.

The established CEN/XFS standard (formerly known as WOSA/XFS) provides support for ATM operators looking to deploy a single ATM application across multiple vendors' hardware, without having to change application programming specific to hardware features. Using open standards-based technology, banks can select alternative suppliers for their ATM and self-service software, as long as their technology conforms to XFS specifications. Implementing these standards also makes it easier to manage multi-vendor ATM networks and interact more easily with third party applications on the ATM.

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DigitalPersona has received top honors from SC Magazine in the publication's annual Biometrics Group Test for the third consecutive year. The June 2009 issue states, "the server software modifies the Active Directory schema to create a seamless implementation through the use of Group Policy Objects. This integration makes for easy deployment and administration of the system and also allows any domain user who is enrolled to logon to any workstation using their fingerprint."

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One out of five owners of smart phones who use mobile banking uses the service every day, while six out of 10 online consumers log into online banking every week, according to research released by Javelin Strategy & Research. Their report, 'The Customer-Driven Architecture: Interactive Financial Services Technology in the iPhone Era,' calls on banks to offer customers the same control over banking that they enjoy with music and other preferences through iPhone and iPod devices and with online services like Twitter.

A small Korean company which started off a dozen years ago selling ring tones to cell phone users is set to make a giant leap forward, taking its mobile payment solutions to the United States. Danal Co., a leading provider of mobile payment services in Korea, will launch BilltoMobile in the United States in about three months, enabling Americans to charge online purchases to their mobile phone bills. In Korea, people simply input their mobile phone number, instead of inputting confidential credit card and other information, to buy goods online. Then, a six-number authentication code is sent instantly to their phone in the form of a short message. When customers key in the authentication code they received, the purchase is complete and charged to their next mobile phone bill. Danal announced that it has sealed a contract with a major U.S. mobile carrier to develop and provide this same type of mobile phone-based payment service.

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Security firm Damballa has published a paper that attempts to dispel the myth that one botnet equals one piece of malware. One botnet operator can use multiple variants of the same family of malware, and multiple botnet operators can use the same DIY bot kit to build their own bot agents that report to their own command and control (C&C). They say that the best overall defense against botnets is protection at the network layer: deploy firewalls and IPSes to block IP addresses, and use URL filtering via a proxy or content filter to catch HTTP-based botnet infections. Sophisticated botnet operators use multiple kits such as Zeus and Sinowal to infect hosts, but they often use the same C&C to the same controlling systems, so they recommend focusing your efforts on detecting the C&C.

According to BitDefender's latest E-Threats Landscape Report, scammers posing as online payment services continue to be one of the top ten most spoofed identities in the world of phishing. The report noted that "the latest trends BitDefender observed reveal several alarming aspects: first, since the beginning of this year, the scams and phishing schemes followed an ascendant curve. Second, the complexity and aggressiveness of raids and attacks have dramatically increased. Lastly, the number of victims followed the same growing pattern."

In a related story, a phishing scam in Australia has reached new levels with bank customers targeted by fake call centers. The emails offer prizes of up to $500 for participation in surveys via interactive voice systems that capture card details. The emails also ask consumers to call to unsuspend blocked credit and debit cards. Law enforcement officials say that the bogus bank call center number used a GoTalk VoIP number, which anyone could have registered over the web using stolen credit card details.

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Online & Mobile Banking:

Saving Costs and Increasing Marketshare

eEminder - http://www.eeminder.com   Read Thomas Utsch's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/eEminder.pdf

Fiserv - http://www.fiserv.com Read Dave Selina's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Fiserv_Selina.pdf

Fiserv - http://www.fiserv.com Read Steve Shaw's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Fiserv_Shaw.pdf

Harland Financial Solutions - http://www.harlandfinancialsolutions.com   Read Jeff Marshall's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/HFS.pdf

MShift - http://www.mshift.com Read Pamela Livingston's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/MShift.pdf

Syphr - http://www.syphronline.com Read Chris Langeley's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Syphr.pdf

TowerGroup - http://www.towergroup.com Read Charul Vyas' comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/TowerGroup.pdf

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MasterCard, the second biggest electronic payments network, said the “freefall” in U.S. retail spending has abated amid an increase in consumer confidence. While spending is still dropping, the rate of decline slowed and the company sees signs that overdue payments may be stabilizing. More details will be available in the company’s SpendingPulse survey that will be released later this month.

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TRM Corporation announced that it will enter the private student loan processing business. Ken Buren, the former President of Rutgers Federal bank, will lead the new initiative which will provide a platform for banks to provide private student loans to their customers. The system will electronically accept loan applications, gather financial information, deliver loan documents and certify loans with university financial aid offices enabling banks to deliver quick preliminary approvals for their student loan applications.

Microsoft announced it will discontinue sales of its Money Plus personal finance software. According to a statement on its website, the company cited increasing competition from financial institutions and others as the reason for retiring the nearly 20-year-old software. It will cease sales of Money Plus on June 30 and will no longer provide online updates after January 2011.

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New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 62 percent of households reported using Internet access in the home in 2007, an increase from 18 percent in 1997, the first year the bureau collected data on Internet use. Sixty-four percent of individuals 18 and over used the Internet from any location in 2007, while only 22 percent did so in 1997. Among households using the Internet in 2007, 82 percent reported using a high-speed connection, and 17 percent used a dial-up connection. Among the states, Alaska and New Hampshire residents had among the highest rates of Internet use from any location (home, work or public access), while Mississippi and West Virginia had among the lowest rates of Internet use.

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According to a survey conducted by call center hiring solutions provider FurstPerson, the average cost of agent turnover is $5,466. To help combat this expensive problem, the company has released their latest white paper, “8 Steps to Great Contact Center Hiring,” which offers organizations insight into the steps they must take to ensure the right call center hiring is taking place. The white paper points to the importance of understanding and defining desired business outcomes as a first step in the call center hiring process. Also included as part of the 8 steps is the need to clearly identity each job and role and the characteristics necessary for succeeding at the position.

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