VeriFone Holdings (NYSE: PAY) today introduced a contactless version of its popular PINpad 1000SE, further expanding the industry's broadest line of contactless payment solutions.
VeriFone today also unveiled SingleCI (Single Contactless Interface), a unifying programming interface with development tools that allows acquirers and developers to leverage existing contactless investments, adapt to future needs, and take advantage of the company's entire contactless portfolio. SingleCI is compatible with today's industry-leading contactless interfaces.
The contactless PINpad 1000SE combines two payment peripherals-PIN entry and contactless-into one space-saving device that reduces costs and support burdens. Suitable for use worldwide, the PCI PED approved PINpad1000SE contactless version is backward-compatible with earlier versions, and features USB or serial connectivity for easy connection to electronic cash registers and POS devices.
"We are unleashing contactless by making it effortlessly available in the best-selling PIN entry device on the market today," said Paul Rasori, VeriFone senior vice president, marketing. "Acquirers can literally swap out an older PINpad 1000SE for this new solution. That makes it easy for them to deploy contactless applications to merchants for acceptance of contactless payments from the widest range of card brands, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express."
The PINpad 1000SE contactless version also supports non-payment applications, such as MiFare, and will be commercially available in the first half of 2009.
SingleCI provides a single interface to VeriFone's entire contactless portfolio, so developers can write one program that will operate on any VeriFone contactless system. "VeriFone's SingleCI takes the pain out of working with contactless, providing acquirers and developers with the ability to invest once to create multiple solutions that run across our contactless product line in countertop, multi-lane, unattended, and drive-thru environments," Rasori said.
Fully compatible with common industry interfaces, SingleCI enables acquirers to leverage their existing investments in contactless platforms. In addition, it future-proofs new investments by providing development tools that enable acquirers to easily add new features and applications, and adapt to changing specifications such as the NFC (Near-Field Communications) standard.