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Smart Card Payment Technologies Presented in Smart Card Alliance Workshop at CTST 2006

Experts From American Express, First Data, IBM, MasterCard and Visa Join Smart Card Leaders to Discuss Payment Technology Trends

As banks, credit and debit card companies and merchants seek payment solutions that will meet consumer demands for convenience and security, leading players in the payments industry are turning to contactless smart card technology as a solution that addresses both needs.

Payments and security professionals can learn from industry executives about the latest trends in smart card technology and implementation best practices in a one-day workshop hosted by the Smart Card Alliance at CardTech/SecurTech 2006, to be held May 2-4 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

The workshop, "Foundations of Card Technologies for Transactions," runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 2, 2006. Topics covered will include integration and processing of advanced payments, online transaction security and the technologies being implemented to improve the security and convenience of transactions.

The morning presentations will address the state of the payments marketplace and changes in infrastructure that are taking place throughout the payments industry. The afternoon panels will discuss issues facing banks, merchants and consumers, and trends driving convergence for transit, mobile and online payments.

Executives from the payments industry and leading technology providers have been assembled by the Alliance to discuss smart card payment initiatives and trends at the workshop. Speakers include: Niki Manby, vice president, market and technology innovation, Visa USA; Jim Diezemann, vice president, business development, and Toni Merschen, senior vice president, MasterCard International; Gail Francolini, vice president, advanced payments, American Express; Greg Garback, executive officer, department of finance, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Deborah Baxley, partner, banking strategic change practice, IBM; Matthew Radcliffe, field marketing manager, Axalto; Mohammad Khan, chief operating officer, ViVOTech; Francine Dubois, vice president of marketing, Oberthur Card Systems; Wendy Humphrey, vice president, First Data Corporation; and Manuel Albers, regional director, business development, Philips Semiconductors.

"Card issuers, merchants and consumers are realizing that the speed, convenience and added security features of contactless payments offer real benefits that cash or standard magnetic stripe bank cards do not," said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance and moderator of the workshop. "The Foundations workshop at CardTech/SecurTech will show how the financial payments industry is heading toward adoption of new payment cards, keyfobs and mobile devices for use in numerous high-volume, low-value retail segments. Panelists will also discuss how new technologies provide secure online transactions through multi-factor authentication and advanced encryption technologies."

Knowledge takeaways from the workshop include:

--  Technology and business factors driving changes in the payments
    industry
--  Security and consumer convenience built into smart contactless payment
    cards
--  Requirements and obstacles for each of the major industry
    stakeholders: financial institutions, merchants and consumers
--  Payments networks and how smart, secure payments will drive a change
    of technology at the retail point of sale
--  Convergence in the payments industry: technology and trends for
    transit, mobile and online payment
    

Registration for the CTST workshop is available at . Alliance members receive a 10% discount on all conference registration packages. Additional information on the Smart Card Alliance can be found at www.smartcardalliance.org.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology. Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America.

About CardTech/SecurTech

CardTech/SecurTech 2006, produced by SourceMedia, is America's largest advanced card and biometrics conference, covering secure transaction technology, contactless cards and IT/physical access security convergence. Over 3,500 delegates and 200 exhibiting companies attended CTST in April 2005.

Distributed by Market Wire