FIME to Certify Dual Interface Interac FlashTM Enabled Cards and Readers
29 July 2011 – FIME, a global leader in consulting and integration testing services for contact and contactless chip solutions, has achieved Interac Association accreditation to certify dual interface cards and readers. To date, FIME is the only laboratory to achieve dual interface certification agent status, which will support the mass market roll-out of Interac Flash, Canada’s new contactless debit payment functionality. This feature is an enhancement of Interac® Debit and gives cardholders the ability to carry out point-of-sale (POS) debit transactions, using either the contact or contactless technology on their debit card for smaller value purchases.
Interac Association, Canada’s leading debit payment network, launched Interac Flash in 2010. Based on EMV® requirements, the specification designed for Interac Flash enabled cards and readers provides consumers with the option of completing a transaction by either ‘flashing’ their card near a POS terminal, or inserting the card into the terminal and entering a personal identification number (PIN). The specification, which was developed in 2010, offers a standardised approach to delivering dual interface cards within the Canadian market to ensure a secure, interoperable and sustainable infrastructure.
FIME America laboratory based in Montreal will perform evaluations on products before market release to ensure they comply with the specification designed for Interac Flash enabled products. Successful card and terminal products will be issued with the required certification stamps.
“Developing and launching a dual interface specification required a multidisciplinary approach due to the various stakeholders such as acquirers, issuers and merchants involved in bringing a contactless payments system to market,” said Allen Wright, Vice President, Products and Services Management at Interac Association. “FIME participated in our Dual Interface Working Group, sharing its knowledge and expertise within this area alongside other leading market providers. With its global experience, regional presence in Montreal and awareness of Interac Association operations and specifications, we were delighted to appoint FIME America as a certification laboratory to evaluate Interac Flash enabled products prior to market release.”
Xavier Giandominici, Director of FIME America, adds: “It is an exciting time for contactless payments globally, with many regions looking to achieve mass market deployments to deliver convenient and user-friendly services. With the Interac network, Canada’s ubiquitous issuance and acceptance debit payment network, the country is ideally positioned to achieve a comprehensive contactless infrastructure that will provide many benefits to its users. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute our extensive knowledge of contactless technology throughout the development process, and provide our advance testing services to the Canadian market as it prepares for large scale deployment of this technology.”
About FIME
FIME is an independent global leader in consulting and integration testing services for smart devices and secure chip-based applications within the telecom, e-payment, transport, e-identity and logistic sectors. Its international team works with manufacturers, banks and authorities within these markets throughout the research and development lifecycle to provide expertise on sector requirements, functional and security features and industry regulation.
Since 1995, FIME has established global ISO 17025 accredited laboratories which provide official testing and certification services to validate a solution’s compliance and security before launch. FIME’s technical ability ensures a customer’s solution is secure, interoperable and achieves the highest level of industry standardisation.
With over 200 employees and operating across America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and Asia, FIME has worked with leading international schemes such as American Express, First Data, JCB, MasterCard and Visa to bring pioneering and convenient chip-based services to end users.
