MasterCard PayPass

US Bank is launching U.S. Bank MasterCard® PayPass™ VITAband® service, a light-weight and durable wristband that combines contactless payment technology with emergency contact and medical information.

ANZ started a limited pilot test of mobile payments via NFC stickers and BlackBerry based micro-SD cards in New Zealand.

The bank is issuing MasterCard PayPass stickers and memory cards to staff to test the technology in retail locations. Earlier ANZ launched its first PayPass-enabled credit cards to consumers.

There are just several terminals that accept contactless payments in New Zealand including Westpac Stadium and Eden Park as well as Hell Pizza, St Pierre's Sushi and Corporate Cabs set to come onstream in July.

Charge Anywhere has announced launch of its new software that turns Google Nexus S into NFC payments terminal.

Owing to the new system the owners of the Android-based mobile device can process credit card, cheque and ACH payments in the field. it was said that the latest update ensures acceptance of MasterCard PayPass and Visa Blink contactless payments. The company says that the system will be extended to other smartphones as they gain NFC technology.

First Data Corporation in association with INSIDE Contactless have introduced the new MasterCard PayPass contactless payment tag for mobile phones. The new product is based on INSIDE’s MicroPass payment platform and enables mobile phones with contactless payment capabilities. MasterCard PayPass mobile payment tag will be marketed and sold to MasterCard licensed financial institutions and card issuers.

Customers of largest US bank Citi can now avail themselves of a new mobile payment service. Citi is offering contactless stickers that can be attached to the back of mobile phones. The option was not announced, but customers can find and order it on the website where it is marketed by the tag line: "The back of your phone just became its coolest feature".

The Citi payment tags, supplied by Oberthur Technologies, enable customers to make payments of up to $50 at the point of sale at MasterCard PayPass readers.

HSBC Bermuda has partnered with MasterCard Worldwide for launching a “tap-and-go” technology to allow its cardholders to make payments for their purchases more easily and quickly.

 MasterCard Canada has partnered with BMO Bank of Montreal and Research In Motion to enable mobile payments on BlackBerry smartphones through its MasterCard PayPass 'tap and go' contactless payment technology.

MasterCard has announced the availability of M/Chip Advance, a payment platform takes traditional debit, credit and prepaid chip cards to the next level by advancing payment functionality, facilitating deployment of contactless applications and integrating information needed for business applications such as transit and loyalty. The result according to MasterCard: "the potential to deliver versatile, multi-functional payment capabilities to consumers on one payment card." 

 Zenius Solutions, an NFC software company, announced an NFC credit card payment solution for the iPhone. Retrofitted iPhones can conduct secure contactless transactions for MasterCard PayPass, Visa payWave, American Express ExpressPay and Discover Network Zip. The solution provides control to the user from a menu on the iPhone handset screen, as well as support for multiple applications.

 MasterCard Worldwide, Credicard, Citibank’s credit card administrator for the Brazilian market, and Redecard have partnered for the introduction of MasterCard PayPass contactless payment technology in Rio de Janeiro. The initiative is aimed to enable customers to make payments at public transportation and other quick service merchants. According to the statement of MasterCard its PayPass technology is the first product launched for public transportation in Latin America. 

 Zenius Solutions has announced the integration of its software to an NFC add-on for GSM phones - offering the ability to enable interactive NFC capability on current mobile phones. NFC payment capability is achieved by adding a BLADOX Waver product running ZeniusMobilePay software to supported GSM phones, enabling secure Mastercard PayPass, Visa payWave, American Express ExpressPay and Discover Network Zip EMV and non-EMV Contactless transactions. The Zenius-enabled BLADOX Waver solution fits into the phone's SIM slot along with the original SIM card.

 Gasoline-convenience store retailer Hess will accept MasterCard PayPass at more than 870 company-operated Hess and Hess Express locations along the eastern US by early 2010. that also reflects the continuous growth in use of contactless payment cards.

MasterCard Worldwide announced  today the issuance of the 50 millionth MasterCard® PayPassTM card or device, as of 4Q 2008, which in the last year more than doubles the number of cards and devices in circulation around the world. This significant PayPass momentum demonstrates not only the demand for simple solutions when it comes to payments, but also the continued secular shift toward electronic payments as validated by recent data1 that indicates 41 percent of consumers use cash less often today than they did two years ago.