The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has produced 75 million electronic passports at its secure production facilities in Washington, D.C. and Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The electronic, or e-passport program, launched in 2005 and includes an integrated, secure chip and antenna incorporating numerous security features. GPO and the Department of State developed the U.S. e-passport in response to the requirements for Visa Waiver Program countries in the 2002 Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act. 

MasterCard’s PayPass contactless payment feature may soon be presented to the Azerbaijan market of cashless payments.

According to a recent MasterCard study, 75% of the local residents said they would like to use contactless payment cards in supermarkets and 60% to pay public transport fare. When asked which devices, in addition to a plastic card, it would be convenient to make payments, 86% of respondents said they would like to use their mobile phone. 

OC Transpo, Canada is planning a new smart card system to roll out this year that will help reduce lost revenues due to malfunctions with the transit’s electronic fare boxes, according to CBC News.

The union representing OC Transpo drivers has been continually warning managers for years that the company is losing revenue because of jammed electronic fare boxes. “When we have a defective fare box we’re told to carry on, not to collect the fare. So we’re losing a lot of revenues,” said Michel Fecteau, who has been driving OC Transpo buses for more than 30 years. 

Bedford Borough, UK will launch a smart card-based ticketing scheme to improve bus services for local residents, after receiving more than £200,000 in government funding.

The Bedford Borough Council has been awarded £218,170 to introduce smart ticketing, install real time information displays, as well as to provide subsidized tickets to encourage more people to travel by bus. 

VeriFone Systems has received certification of its EMV/NFC-enabled payment processing solution from Vantiv, a provider of payment processing services and related technology solutions for U.S. merchants and financial institutions.

The two companies have cooperated on certification of the VeriFone Evolution payment platform for EMV payments. According to VeriFone, each device in the VX Evolution family supports NFC and EMV payments and offers PCI PTS 3.0 security.  

Cubic Transportation Systems has named Doug Morse to the role of vice president, customer experience. The new executive level position created by Cubic provides a focal point for everything related to customer service and satisfaction.

Morse assumes responsibility for ensuring that customers worldwide are achieving their goals with Cubic technology and services. Morse also will be responsible for Cubic’s changing services role, to help its customers adapt to and integrate the new technologies such as smart phones and open payment for their businesses. 

The German Banking Industry Committee has partnered with Infineon Technologies to launch one of Europe’s biggest contactless payment trials in the metropolitan area of Hanover, Braunschweig and Wolfsburg.

The “girogo” project will offer more than 1.3 million bank customers tap-and-go payment functionality at an array of merchants, shops and gas stations. The contactless bank cards will offer customers the convenience and speed in transactions up to €20. No signature or PIN entry is required.