Paul Penrose Head of Research at Finextra
Researchers from Harvard and MIT have questioned the effectiveness of site image authentication technologies. The technique, pioneered by RSA subsidiary PassMark Security, relies on the exchange of personalised digital images between customer and bank Web site in advance of password entry. In the study, only three per cent of users chose not to l...
07 February 2007 /security /retail
Let’s face it – business videos and podcasts on the Web are a real turn-off. The medium itself has plenty of potential – and at Finextra we’ll be looking to produce more audio/video content over the coming months – but the application of the technology in the business space is all wrong. How many times have you tuned into a Webcast only to tune ...
31 January 2007 /retail Video extravaganza
Red faces at the Polish Competition Authority after the European Commission backed down on threats to outlaw credit card interchange fees on retail transactions. (EC abandons retailers and backs down on interchange fees). The Commission – sensibly enough – has decided to stay its hand on interchange in the absence of any obvious alternative fee-c...
31 January 2007 /retail EBAday
Muted cheers across the City after UK insurer Prudential eventually offloaded its loss-making Internet banking operation Egg to Citigroup for £575 million (Prudential sells Egg to Citigroup). The price, at twice book value, is not bad (UK banks typically sell at 1.5 times book value), but it’s a far cry from the £1.1 billion price tag attached to ...
29 January 2007 /retail Finextra50 fintech index
Further to my recent musings on Microsoft Points (The Virtual Bank of Microsoft), Dow Jones reports on CNN that Microsoft boss Bill Gates has been looking into the possibility of developing an online payment system that will be cheaper than credit card transactions, making it possible for companies to charge small fees for Web-based content and se...
29 January 2007 /payments /retail Trends in Financial Services
Online universe Second Life has been lauded by the serious business press as a glittering land of opportunity, a rapidly-expanding economy where fortunes can be made by game-players buying and selling land and turning tricks in return for convertible Linden dollars. But when venture consultant Randolph Harrison and a hedge fund manager friend sunk...
26 January 2007 /payments /retail
Is Microsoft trying to create its own online currency? It’s an issue worthy of consideration, following the Zune music player release late last year. Consumers wanting to buy and download songs from the Zune music store are finding that their greenbacks are not accepted at Microsoft’s virtual checkout. Instead you have to convert your hard cash to...
25 January 2007 /payments /retail
So farewell then David Lascelles, the former banking editor of the Financial Times who co-founded respected City think tank The Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation with Andrew Hilton in 1993. After 14 years at the helm of CSFI, Lascelles is taking up a backroom position as a senior fellow. Over the years the CSFI has forged a reputation a...
23 January 2007 /payments /retail
Welcome to Finextra. We use cookies to help us to deliver our services. You may change your preferences at our Cookie Centre.
Please read our Privacy Policy.