Hypercom's fixed and mobile Optimum terminals previously were ep2 certified. The certification of the popular unattended products strengthens Hypercom's position in the fast growing market for self-service payments and expands the global market for the company's solutions.

The ep2 specification was developed to bring the chip-based EMV payment procedure into Switzerland. The specification was a joint project between eight major organizations including SIX Group, Credit Suisse, Diners Club Schweiz AG and JCB International Co, Ltd. The future EFTPOS infrastructure of debit, credit and electronic purse terminals in Switzerland is clearly defined, resulting in an open system based on international standards and recommendations.

"Demand for high security unattended self-service transactions continues to escalate globally, providing merchants and operators with new revenue streams and giving consumers 24/7 access to goods and services", said Markus Hövekamp, Vice President of Hypercom's Global Unattended Business Unit. "The certification of our Artema Modular together with the earlier certified Optimum product family advances our global payment leadership in mass transit rail ticketing, road toll and parking meters, vending machines, kiosks, petrol forecourts and much more."

The Artema Modular, Hypercom's best-in-class unattended card payment solution, was first introduced at the end of 2005 and can now be found in self-service devices deployed in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and North America.