Infrared Data Association (IrDA) Releases Infrared Financial Messaging (IrFM) Universal Wireless 'Point & Pay' Standard for Public Review

Walnut Creek, CA …February 5, 2002…After two years of intensive work on the development of a Universal Wireless Payment Standard, the IrDA and member companies, today are pleased to make the Infrared Financial Messaging (IrFM) Point & Pay Profile available for public review on the IrDA website at www.irda.org. The IrFM Point & Pay Profile contains detailed consumer usage models, terminal and mobile client implementation guidelines, architectural definitions for sending and receiving payment and transaction record information between mobile devices, such as handheld phones or PDAs and a financial terminal such as a Point-of-Sales (POS) device. The true value of this profile specification is that it incorporates existing payment instrument's (magnetic stripe credit/debit cards, smart cards, checks, etc…) technology and standards to allow for rapid international deployment. The Standard specifically ensures that current payment and processing infrastructure for merchants and financial institutions remains unchanged.

This "Point & Shoot" Payment Standard provides a road map for hardware, software and systems developers to ensure interoperability and compatibility on a global basis. The Standard was developed by IrDA in conjunction with its major stakeholders including CrossCheck, C-SAM, Extended Systems, Harex InfoTech, Ingenico, In2M, Link Evolution, Novalog, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), NTT DoCoMo, Palm Computing, Personal Solutions, Toshiba TEC, Verifone, Visa International, ViVOtech and ZiLOG. As well, IrDA has established cooperative arrangements with allied associations such as the Association for Retail Transaction Standards (ARTS) and the Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC). The Standard enables development of wireless proximity transaction solutions for a wide range of consumer payment environments, including, but not limited to, making payments at in-store payment terminals, vending machines, drive-thru restaurant terminals, gas pumps, or public transportation terminals such as bus, subway, taxi or toll-booths.

Field trials and implementations are beginning now in various parts of the world. Harex InfoTech is rolling out the first commercial implementation of its ZOOP Universal Mobile Payment Service (UMPS) this spring in Korea, as referenced in the February 4th, 2002 issue of Business Week. Harex is also launching a U.S. field trial of IrFM and ZOOP services at the University of Southern California (USC) along with several other IrFM stakeholders later this year. Visa International announced their support of IrFM' s Point & Pay Profile on January 14, 2002 in the 'Visa Financial Messaging Profile for Proximity Payment".

IrDA is releasing this initial specification for public review and to assist in trial implementations. IrDA's IrFM workgroup will continue to upgrade the specification and add new consumer usage models as well as test and interoperability requirements. The upgrades and improvements are intended to come from early trial and commercialization feedback. Specific focus will be given to an "IrFM Express Payment" option for such use cases as subway ticket reading, tollgate, bus or vending applications.

The IrDA is uniquely qualified to provide the leadership in developing global standards for this important new innovation in the world of truly universal wireless transactions at the POS. It is capitalizing on its seven (7) years experience with enabling universal mobile wireless connectivity and two (2) years work with major industry leaders to enable financial transactions over mobile devices. Conscious, point-to-point, fast, short-range connections provide heightened security of sensitive personal financial information. Infrared technology is mature, low cost, and pervasive (IrDA technology is currently installed in over 250 million mobile phones and PDA's worldwide). With today's public introduction of the IrFM Point & Pay Profile, IrDA extends its leadership not only in wireless connectivity standards, but also in providing useful and implementable universal wireless payment applications.

IrDA is an International Organization that creates and promotes interoperable, low-cost infrared data connectivity standards that support a walk-up, point-to-point user model. The standards support a broad range of computing and communication appliances. For more information about IrDA, and IrFM contact Ron Brown, Executive Director of IrDA at (925) 944-2930, email at ron@irda.org or visit our web site at www.irda.org

Original Press Release location: http://www.irda.org/news/press_irda.asp.