News
EMVCO to increase tranparency and engagement with global payments indusdtry.
EMVCo, the EMV standards body owned by JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., has today announced plans to broaden industry participation in the development work of the organisation and establish a regular, formal dialogue between EMVCo and the global payments industry, through the launch of a new website subscription programme and annual user meeting.
To be launched during the first quarter of 2009, a new subscription
programme delivered through the EMVCo website will allow interested parties
to access advance information regarding revisions to EMV Specifications,
draft documents and upcoming meetings. Subscribers will also be able to
make direct contact with EMVCo to solicit feedback or guidance in respect of
technical issues.
EMVCo will introduce this subscription programme, at a
nominal annual fee of 750 USD per user, in recognition that many parties,
such as vendors, consultants, laboratories, payment schemes, merchants and
regional associations, can benefit from providing input into the development
work of the EMV Specifications.
The introduction of the subscriber service will not affect the royalty-free
availability of final and published versions of EMV Specifications,
bulletins and application notes, type approval process documents and
approval lists. EMVCo remains committed to ensuring free industry access to
these documents from the EMVCo website.
Tad Fordyce, Head of Global Product Platforms and Delivery at Visa Inc. and
Chairman of the EMVCo Executive Committee, comments: "The subscriber
programme will seek to ensure that key stakeholders of EMVCo across the
globe, who wish to have access to the development work of EMVCo, can
actively monitor and participate in the document creation and review
processes. Subscribers will have a direct and open line of communication
with EMVCo, resulting in their needs being better served by the
organisation."
In 2009, EMVCo will additionally introduce an annual user meeting for
subscribers. Art Kranzley, Chief Emerging Technology Officer at MasterCard
Worldwide and member of the EMVCo Executive Committee, explains: "The
intention behind this new initiative is to open up EMVCo's communications to
a broader audience, promote greater transparency regarding organisational
activities and provide a regular platform for those implementing EMV
Specifications in the industry to communicate issues, requirements and
general comments directly back to the organisation. This grass roots
feedback will play a valuable role in shaping the development of EMVCo's
future tactical and strategic work priorities and EMVCo's increased openness
will hopefully stimulate further industry engagement."
The EMVCo Executive Committee consulted with the EMVCo Board of Advisors,
comprising representatives from the global payments industry, on the
subscriber services model in June 2008. The outcome is reflected in the
decision to finalise the proposal for introduction to the industry in early
2009.
Kazuhiro Matsumoto, Executive Vice President of Global Infrastructure and
Technologies at JCB International and member of the EMVCo Executive
Committee, summarises:
"While EMVCo has always sought regular feedback from
the Board of Advisors, supplemented by more ad hoc meetings with various
payment related audiences over recent years, a regular dialogue with active
participants is desirable to ensure that EMVCo's standardisation efforts are
reflective of the needs of the wider payments community. The new
subscription programme and user meeting will help to facilitate this channel
of communication.
"The role of EMVCo has expanded in recent years, from developing and
maintaining the core EMV Specifications to accommodating additional
standardisation requirements brought about by contactless and mobile
payments technology. Subscription fees will be reinvested into the
organisation in support of its ongoing and future role in furthering
standardisation of new payment methods and environments, on behalf of the
global industry."
www.emvco.com
About EMVCo
EMVCo LLC was formed in February 1999 by Europay International, MasterCard
International and Visa International to manage, maintain and enhance the
EMVT Integrated Circuit Card Specifications for Payment Systems. With the
acquisition of Europay by MasterCard in 2002 and JCB Co., Ltd. joining the
organisation in 2004, EMVCo is currently operated by JCB International,
MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc.
EMVCo's primary role is to manage, maintain and enhance the EMV Integrated
Circuit Card Specifications to ensure interoperability and acceptance of
payment system integrated circuit cards on a worldwide basis.
EMVCo is also responsible for type approval processes for terminal
compliance testing and Common Core Definitions (CCD) and Common Payment
Application (CPA) card compliance testing. These testing processes ensure
that a single terminal and card approval process is developed at a level
that will allow cross payment system interoperability through compliance
with the EMV specifications. Additional information can be found at
www.emvco.com