NFC, ApplePay™, and EMV with TAM

A new article has been posted on the TAM Retail blog by Bruce Lode:

Many of our TAM Users have been contacting us with questions relating to new capabilities and changes in the credit card and payment marketplace.  I thought it best to post an update.

NFC (Near Field Communications) a.k.a. Contactless Payments, ApplePay™
Though not widely accepted yet, our quality control team has been working on allowing NFC payments in TAM.

Though not final, based on TAM Retail’s initial testing and research, there is currently no need for a development effort to support NFC contactless cards and Mobile phones like ApplePay.  The retailer will only need to add a TAM compliant NFC reader.

We should complete full testing and have final approval and release on NFC payments through TAM by the end of the 1^st quarter (if not sooner).

EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa, a global standard) a.k.a. IC cards or “chip cards”
TAM Retail is currently working closely with our middleware providers, both MPS and Shift 4 to ensure that TAM is fully EMV compliant by the October deadline.  Currently, the middlewares have not published their final EMV programming specifications.  MPS has completed enhancements and is in the EMV authorization phase for certification with each and every card brand.  The middleware providers will finalize their individual programming specifications early to mid-second quarter this year.  Once we receive the finalized specifications, we will begin development immediately.

New devices will also be required to read the EMV chip cards.

What will be the cost to the TAM User Community to become NFC and EMV compliant
TAM Retail will be providing any required TAM upgrades as soon as they are available. TAM upgrades are free of charge as part of an in-force subscription.  So keep your TAM subscription agreements up to date.

In order to accept NFC and EMV payments with TAM, you will need to purchase a new device for each cash register to allow scanning/reading of the new technologies.  TAM currently offers and supports two devices, the Ingenico iSC250 ($629) or the Ingenico iSC350 ($779).  Also required is a configuration service ($50) and a counter mount/stand accessory ($65), regardless of the device selected.  If your organization has already purchased one of these devices, it should be compliant, but will likely require a firmware upgrade and reconfiguration to allow support of NFC and EMV.

As you may be able to tell, the exact timing, specifications, and supported devices are still in a bit of flux.  However, this is the most up-to-date information I can provide at this time.  Please watch this blog for continuing updates over the next few months.