PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Dec. 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As emerging payments technologies and methods continue to make their way into the U.S. payments market and consumers' hands, questions abound: What is the state of U.S. EMV migration? Who will win the so-called "mobile wallet wars"? Can open transit payments catch on nationally? These topics and more will be the focus when the payments industry gathers next February at the Smart Card Alliance 2014 Payments Summit - the industry's leading forum for smart, secure payment technology, implementation and markets.
The 7th Annual Smart Card Alliance Payments Summit is being held Feb. 5-7, 2014, with pre-conference workshops on Feb. 4, at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Up-to-date agenda, registration, exhibition and sponsorship details can be found at www.scapayments.com. Early registration discounts expire on Jan. 14.
"The U.S. has made great strides but also faces challenges as we evolve our payments infrastructure from magnetic stripe to EMV chip-based payments and begin to incorporate new innovations in mobile and transit markets," said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. "The Payments Summit has become the event stakeholders look forward to all year to gain perspective on the unique U.S. payments market, new appreciation for how far the U.S. has come in the adoption of emerging payments, and a refreshed outlook on how to overcome new challenges."
The three-day Payments Summit will feature senior experts from all three leading payments transaction infrastructures: EMV card payments, mobile payments and transit payments. The opening day keynote presentations and discussion panels include:
- The State of EMV Chip Migration in the U.S. Stephanie Ericksen, head of Authentication Product Integration, Visa Inc.
- Mobile Commerce in 2014: Isis Mobile Wallet. Jim Stapleton, chief sales officer, Isis
- Transforming Payments for an Enhanced Consumer Experience. Edward Olebe, group head, MasterCard Worldwide
- EMV and Contactless: Enhancing Customer Experiences. Karen Czack, vice president, Global Chip Products, American Express
- Update on Transit, Tolling, and Parking Convergence: Is the Vision Becoming Reality? Michael Dinning, director of Transportation Logistics & Security, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Volpe
- EMV in the U.S. - The Twists and Turns for U.S. Migration. A panel with representatives from card brands, merchants, issuers, card service providers and acquirers
- Transit Agency Executive Roundtable on EMV, Mobile, and Account-based Fare Collection. What transit industry leaders have to say about the state of the payments industry and meeting the demands for public transportation
The remainder of the conference is organized in three concurrent tracks with sessions on:
- EMV Payments. The State of U.S. EMV Migration - Technology and Business Implications for the Market; EMV Payments Acceptance Across All Channels; EMV Implementation Strategies; The Changing U.S. Payments Landscape: Impact of Innovation on Payments Behavior in the Future; After EMV: What Comes Next?
- Mobile Payments. State of Mobile Payments - Technology and Business Implications for the Market; Understanding Mobile Payments Schemes and Offers Strategies; Securing Mobile Payments; Mobile as a Platform for Next Generation Payments; Maturing of the NFC Mobile Payments Ecosystem
- Transit Payments. Open Payments for Large Transit Agencies; Emerging Transit Payments Options; Making Open Loop Payments Work for Transit; Open Payment Challenges for Smaller Agencies; Technical Standards for Transit
Prior to the conference on Feb. 4, the Smart Card Alliance will offer educational workshops and an optional ski event.
The same week at the Grand America Hotel on Feb. 3, the EMV Migration Forum will host an in-person working committee meeting. Visit http://www.emv-connection.com/emv-migration-forum/next-meeting/ for more information.
Follow news about the 2014 Payments Summit and more by following the Smart Card Alliance on Twitter @SmartCardOrgUSA using #PaymentsSummit.
About the Smart Card Alliance
The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.
Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.
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