Hypercom focuses its development efforts on new technologies and payment products, both hardware and software, emerging in the electronic payment industry. We work closely with our partners defining new product concepts and identifying promising applications that make tomorrow's POS solutions available today.

Hypercom has dedicated itself to complying with Europay International, MasterCard International and Visa International’s (EMV) goal of GLOBAL smart card interoperability, ensuring chip-based credit and debit cards can be used anywhere in the world.

To achieve this, new and more rigorous standards were created THAT all new and existing terminals must meet in order to be certified for use with Europay, MasterCard and Visa payment systems. These standards govern:

• Interoperability
• Backward compatibility
• Interconnectivity
• Security and other operating features

In February 1999, EMVCo, the smart cards standards organization was created by Europay Internatiional, MasterCard International and Visa International to administer, maintain, and promote the EMV Integrated Circuit Card, Terminal, and Application Specifications for Payment Systems (commonly referred to as the EMV Specifications). THESE specifications define a set of requirements that ensure interoperability for credit and debit payment applications between smart cards and terminals on a global basis, regardless of where the card is used. EMV Specifications serve as the global framework for smart card and terminal manufacturers worldwide, WHILE EMVCo ensures a single terminal approval process at a level that allows cross-payment system interoperability through compliance with EMV Specifications.

EMVCo established the terminal Type Approval process to create a mechanism to test compliance with the EMV Specifications. Type Approval provides an increased level of confidence that interoperability and consistent logical behavior between compliant applications have been achieved. The EMVCo Type Approval process exclusively addresses terminal Type Approval. Card Type Approval is the responsibility of the Europay, MasterCard and Visa payment systems.

Hypercom was one of the first POS terminal providers to receive the EMVCo Level 1 and 2 certifications necessary to fully support the conversion to smart card transactions and first to pass all of the EMVCo Level 2 tests through Europay. Our Global Certifications team provides support, implementation and certification for roll-out throughout the world.