News

Hypercom, Coinamatic team on smart card platform

September 19, 2005

PHOENIX - Global payment technology provider Hypercom Corp. announced in a news release that Coinamatic, Canada's largest multi-housing laundry route operator, has agreed to purchase Hypercom's new T7Plus credit/debit card terminals for use with their SmartCity smart card platform.

SmartCity, developed by Coinamatic, is Canada's largest reloadable smart card system, providing a variety of micropayment services for multi-dwelling units and commercial facilities including apartments, condominiums, non-profit housing societies, colleges and universities. Coinamatic has issued over 450,000 reloadable smart cards. The Hypercom terminals will be integrated into Coinamatic's SmartCity Card Reload Centre kiosks and installed in or near the buildings to which Coinamatic supplies smart card-activated laundry, parking and vending equipment as well as access-control devices. The kiosks allow SmartCity cardholders to add value to their smart card by swiping their bank debit or credit cards.

The agreement marks the first use of Hypercom's terminals on the Moneris network, Canada's largest debit and credit card transaction processing system, as well as the first time the T7Plus terminal has received security certification from the Interac Association that governs Canada's national debit service. These factors and Coinamatic's large footprint are expected to significantly raise Hypercom's visibility in the Canadian market.

The 19-key model of Hypercom's T7Plus terminal will replace a third-party product and is intended to keep pace with the stringent Interac regulations moving forward. The T7Plus terminal was selected because of its large, easy-to-read buttons and display, and its adaptability to various SmartCity modifications enabling it to perform in an unattended environment.

The card terminal purchase was secured by Rycom CCI of Mississauga, Ontario, a technology solution provider to the retail market that serves as Hypercom's country manager in Canada. Rycom is also performing the device customizations.

"Our SmartCity Reload Centres are self-serve kiosks located in unattended environments, so the debit/credit card terminal at the heart of each kiosk must be reliable and easy to use as well as secure and compliant with Canadian regulations," said Michel McDonald, vice president, SmartCity Solutions, Coinamatic Canada Inc. "Hypercom's T7Plus is enabling us to provide a state-of-the-art smart card reload mechanism that is an essential and key component of the SmartCity card platform."