MasterCard and VeriFone to Expand Taxi Payments Leadership by Enabling Passengers to “Tap & Go” in More Than 5,000 NYC Taxis
MasterCard® PayPass™ Builds on Successful Rollout in Philadelphia Taxis by Bringing Speed and Convenience to Taxi Passengers in NYC and Las Vegas
PURCHASE, N.Y., (BUSINESS WIRE)–MasterCard Worldwide and VeriFone Holdings (NYSE: PAY) today announced that New York City (NYC) taxis are accepting MasterCard® PayPass™. Certain NYC taxis began accepting PayPass in June and more than 5,000 NYC taxis are anticipated to accept PayPass by December 2007. MasterCard is the global leader in contactless payments, with more than 16 million PayPass cards and devices in use at more than 55,000 merchant locations worldwide as of Q2 2007. MasterCard is leading the introduction of cashless payments to transit environments around the world, including subway systems, buses, ferries, parking lots, tolls and taxis.
The first taxis in the United States to accept contactless payments were announced by MasterCard in November 2006, in Philadelphia. Today, 1,600 Philadelphia taxis are equipped with systems implemented by VeriFone’s US-based taxi business, VeriFone Transportation Systems, and accept PayPass. In addition to the successful Philadelphia deployment and ongoing New York City rollout, MasterCard and VeriFone are engaged in a pilot program in Las Vegas taxis scheduled to be completed later this year. The taxis also accept traditional magnetic stripe payment cards.
“With MasterCard PayPass, taxi passengers no longer need to fumble for cash or coins or wait for a driver to make change,” said T.J. Sharkey, Group Head, Merchant Sales, U.S. Commerce Development, MasterCard Worldwide. “MasterCard has led the way in deploying contactless payments in taxis, buses and subway systems around the globe. This is a perfect solution for transit environments because it helps get passengers to work, to a show or to a game more quickly and easily.”
To use PayPass in participating taxis, passengers simply tap their PayPass-enabled card or device on a contactless reader attached to a VeriFone integrated payment and information system located in the back seat of the taxi. With no swiping or signatures required under $25, PayPass transactions are executed quickly, conveniently and securely. Taxi passengers will have the option of adding a gratuity to each transaction.
“VeriFone’s system provides the convenience and information that taxi passengers in a busy city like New York deserve, with news updates, access to restaurant information and utilizing the payment industry’s fastest and easiest payment option,” said Jeff Dumbrell, VeriFone Senior Vice President, North America. “With MasterCard PayPass acceptance, taxi passengers can quickly ‘Tap & Go’ and be on their way.”
Each passenger will have backseat access to a VeriFone Passenger Information Monitor (PIM) that will deliver a wealth of content, ranging from local news and up-to-date traffic and weather patterns to restaurant, nightlife, shopping and hotel recommendations. Local news and information will be provided from WABC-TV; its sister company ESPN will deliver sports results; while Zagat Survey will deliver entertainment, retail and lodging content. The PIM will also feature movie and theater listings as well as descriptions of New York City events in categories such as art, theater, comedy, music and sports.
VeriFone estimates that MasterCard PayPass cuts approximately 45 seconds off the transaction time in taxis when compared to cash, and 15 seconds when compared to swiping a traditional payment card. VeriFone is the majority shareholder of VeriFone Transportation Systems, a joint venture between VeriFone Holdings, Inc. and TaxiTronics, the company that services over 8,000 of the taxi meters in the city cab fleet.
How MasterCard PayPass Works
MasterCard PayPass uses radio frequency technology to securely transmit payment details wirelessly between the PayPass device and the merchant’s terminal. In taxis, the transaction is then transmitted via secured cellular signal for processing through the VeriFone Transportation System Gateway to the MasterCard network for clearing and settlement.
PayPass cards include magnetic stripe technology, so the cards can also be used in the traditional manner anywhere MasterCard is accepted around the world. PayPass technology can also be used in a number of devices, such as a convenient payment tag that fits on a key chain for easy access. MasterCard is also driving the effort to make contactless payments available on mobile phones.
PayPass allows financial institutions to offer customers more payment options and it helps increase purchase volume for issuers by attracting payments away from cash, increasing accountholder loyalty for their card programs and opening up new acceptance opportunities for “quick pay” environments. PayPass technology enhances any payment account it is added to–be it a credit, debit, prepaid, co-brand, small business or private label account.
About MasterCard PayPass
MasterCard PayPass is ideal for traditional cash-heavy environments where speed is essential, and has led the way in bringing contactless technology to consumer categories such as quick serve restaurants, drug stores, gas stations, vending machines, convenience stores, sports arenas, movie theaters, transit systems and parking garages. There are currently more than 16 million PayPass cards and devices in the market, and PayPass is currently accepted globally at 55,000 merchant locations, including participating 7-Eleven, CVS, McDonald’s, Regal Entertainment Group theaters and many others. PayPass is also accepted at numerous National Football League and Major League Baseball stadiums. For more information about MasterCard PayPass and a full list of participating merchants, visit http://www.mastercard.com/paypass.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link between financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes close to 16 billion payments each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to http://www.mastercardworldwide.com.
About VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (http://www.verifone.com)
VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (“VeriFone”) (NYSE: PAY) is the global leader in secure electronic payment solutions. VeriFone provides expertise, solutions and services that add value to the point of sale with merchant-operated, consumer-facing and self-service payment systems for the financial, retail, hospitality, petroleum, government and healthcare vertical markets. VeriFone solutions are designed to meet the needs of merchants, processors and acquirers in developed and emerging economies worldwide.