Idesco announced that it has updated and enhanced its DESCoder software package, offering security providers and end users alike more control over their contactless access control systems.

DESCoder 2.0 now interfaces with the latest generation of contactless MIFARE readers including Access 7 C 2.0, Access 8 CD, and Access 8 CD 2.0 using a novel approach. Instead of requiring direct reader connections, DESCoder programs a secure configuration card which users can simply expose to the mounted, powered, online reader. This card triggers the reader to catalyze the configuration changes without the hassle of removing and then reinstalling the reader. 

K-Plussa launched an upgraded, contactless version of its cash card to provide a faster and easier shopping experience for costumers at the checkout. K-Plussa is a customer loyalty programmed in Finland offering benefits to its customers from over 3,000 shopping places and over 40 business partners.

The new contactless K-Plussa cash card will be issued to new costumers and those replacing their existing one, with the initiall roll out slated for as early as this month. Contactless terminals installed at participating venues will enable customers to simply hold their card near the reader to register points and grant other benefits.

Currently, there are more than 3.7 million K-Plussa cardholders in nearly 2.2 million households in Finland.  

Visa has announced that more than 1 million EMV chip-enabled cards have been issued by U.S. financial institutions as of December 31, 2011.

Just 18 months ago there were no Visa-branded EMV chip cards issued in the U.S. according to Visa’s Stephanie Ericksen, who attributes the sudden growth to U.S. issuers accepting Visa’s EMV and mobile payments road map.

“Since announcing our road map last year, we have seen strong interest among U.S. issuers large and small to invest in chip technology, as today’s milestone shows,” said Ericksen. 

Cubic Transportation Systems, distributor of the electronic transit Clipper card, has responded to the recent news of a Ph.D. student in IT Security allegedly breaking the encryption in Clipper and similar transit cards.

According SF Weekly, David Oswald, a student at the Ruhr University of Bochum in Germany, broke the encryption using items purchased through a nearby electronics retailer, and by using “a bit of know-how.” From there, he could potentially load the hacked transit card with free rides or create and sell copies for profit. 

The Ralph Carr Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado has selected AMAG Technology’s Symmetry Homeland V7 Security Management System,to provide integrated access control and security management solutions from HID Global.

AMAG’s Symmetry Homeland Security Management System will integrate with 310 HID RP40 multiCLASS smart card readers, which combines HID Prox 125 kHz proximity and iCLASS 13.56 MHz credentials into a single reader. 

UK-regional bus group Bluestar has launched a new transit card for discounted weekly and monthly travel on its network, according to Southern Daily Echo.

The new card enables cashless fare for any service on the Bluestar Network in Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester. It also supports travel on Wilts & Dorset buses and Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight, both of which are owned and operated by Go-Ahead Group.

It is hoped that fewer cash transactions will help to speed up boarding times and reduce delays at busy bus stops.

Read more here.  

As some may recall back in June 2010, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York launched tap-and-go contactless payments for commuters to enter select subway stations and participating bus lines using MasterCard PayPass-enabled terminals. Well, the results are in.

According to Fast Company, the pilot comprised of 26 MTA subway stations and eight bus lines - of the 468 subway stations and 183 bus routes - throughout the city. During the six-month pilot more than 17,000 commuters boarded MTA subway stations and buses using the MasterCard’s PayPal system. Of which, approximately 74,000 taps were recorded.