News and insight into biometric identification and authentication

New service offers biometrically authorized payments via phone

Monday, December 15, 2008

A new service, called VoicePay TV, has been launched by a UK-based startup called Voice Commerce Group (VCG), according to a Finextra article. The VoicePay service is aimed at authenticating consumers buying items over-the-phone after watching television spots. This new system enables the consumer to confirm their identity by using voice biometrics.


For a person to use the service, they will have to open a VoicePay account and enroll by giving a voice sample, a credit or debit card to attach to the account as well as consumer information such as locations and shopping habits. Voice Commerce Group officials assert that the voice-biometric system cannot be fooled by a recording.

VCG expects to see its system improving aspects of both the buying and selling processes by removing the need for handing over card information over the phone, assuaging fears of identity theft, as well as cutting down transaction time and giving a medium for advertising to be better tracked and measured.

Read the full story here [end] 

Oracle has released a new version of Oracle Retail Point-of-Service that aims to increase security, operational efficiency and functionality in part by integrating biometrics.

Oracle partnered with DigitalPersonal to add integrated biometrics to the POS package. Users of the software will login using their fingerprint, which will replace the need for PINs or passwords. This feature intends to reduce fraud by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized employees using a manager ID or swipe card to access the POS and approve overrides.

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Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, has announced the launch of a SIM-based NFC road toll payment application on the Turkcell T11 smart phone.

Developed in collaboration with Bank Asya, the app allows users to migrate their plastic KGS toll payment cards onto their T11 smart phone to pay for fares when crossing bridges and freeway turnpikes.

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Datacard Group, a provider of secure ID and card personalization solutions, has announced an equity investment and strategic partnership with DeviceFidelity, makers of the In2Pay mobile payments solution.

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The UK’s YESpay International and YES-wallet.com have teamed up to build an NFC-enabled cloud-based mobile payments platform.

By integrating the YES-wallet Pouch digital wallet with YESpay EMBOSS payment service, the companies will provide a platform that encompasses e-Money, pre-paid and gift-card payments based on Visa PayWave and MasterCard PayPass contactless standards.

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Etisalat Afghanistan, the country’s fastest growing cellular operator, has announced the launch of its “mHawala” mobile financial services.

Etisalat Afghanistan customers can use mHawala to make contactless mobile transactions at the point of sale, as well as purchase air time, pay bills and transfer funds to family and friends directly from their mobile phone.

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Visa, in partnership with Monitise, has launched a suite of new mobile financial services on its revamped Debit Processing Service platform, enabling mobile phone users to check their account history and balances, transfer funds between accounts, and receive real-time transaction alerts.

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