David Douglas Stone Looking for an early sign of success for mobile commerce? Check out the linkage of digital gift cards and mobile devices. To say that “mobile payments” is the pervasive buzz phrase du jour would be an understatement. The mobile-payments ecosystem is getting more complex, not less, and …

The long war over interchange isn’t likely to end any time soon, which means its harmful effects will go on as well, says Eric Grover. The war over interchange will continue. Washington should stay out of it, playing the role of night watchman in payments, not central planner. Eric Grover …

Merchant plaintiffs and the payment card network and bank defendants should return to the bargaining table and hammer out a new solution to the credit card interchange litigation for which they announced a proposed settlement July 13. That’s the conclusion of Aite Group LLC in releasing results of its recent …

Even though merchants accepting mobile payments are in the minority and mobile-payment volume is low, losses from fraud incidents for those merchants are higher than for non-mobile-accepting merchants, according to the fourth annual “LexisNexis True Cost of Fraud” study sponsored by content provider LexisNexis Risk Solutions and conducted by Javelin …

A 2-year-old startup that allows consumers to use prepaid cards augmented with funds from participating merchants is expected to launch its product commercially next week following a nearly nine-month pilot in the Bay area. Emeryville, Calif.-based Marqeta Inc., which has already signed up about 250 merchants, is banking on the …

The National Retail Federation announced on Tuesday that it is ready go to court to challenge the controversial proposed settlement to a massive group of merchant lawsuits against the bank card networks and some leading banks over card interchange. The NRF’s entry into the fray is the latest indication of …

A group that promotes electronic bill payment through the automated clearing house network is proposing guidelines for use of Quick Response (QR) bar codes on bills that backers hope will encourage more consumers to pay bills online. The Council for Electronic Billing and Payment is taking comments on its proposal …

Visa Inc.’s complicated new Fixed Acquirer Network Fee, or FANF, has caused considerable head scratching if not outright consternation for merchant acquirers, independent sales organizations, and merchants since it took effect in April. But, in addition to figuring out FANF’s mysteries, the acquiring industry needs to account for a new …

The financials looked good, but the Fates seemed to be spinning some entangling threads for VeriFone Systems Inc. during the leading point-of-sale terminal maker’s third fiscal quarter ended July 31. There was the challenge to VeriFone’s big win in Washington, D.C., where the company’s taxicab payment and media systems are …

Two recent deals by startup Square Inc. indicate that the specialist in mobile payments for part-time sellers and tiny businesses is moving up the merchant ladder. In mid-August, San Francisco-based Square introduced a $275-per-month fixed pricing plan that may appeal to higher-volume, established small businesses. That announcement came shortly after …