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Planet Payment and China UnionPay have announced an agreement that allows Planet Payment's to provide processing support for China UnionPay's credit and debit cards in both card present and card-not-present environments directly to banks and acquirers on a worldwide basis.

"China UnionPay is one of the world's leading bankcard schemes," said Philip D. Beck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Planet Payment. "With this new agreement, our acquirer or processor customers globally can accept UnionPay credit and PIN debit cards, enabling merchants to sell more goods and services to Chinese cardholders and tapping into one of the largest markets for potential new customers."

Isis has announced today that VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox Payments will integrate and support the Isis Mobile Commerce Application in current and future product lines.

“Payment systems suppliers provide critical infrastructure for the development of mobile commerce,” said Scott Mulloy, chief technology officer, Isis. “Today’s announcement is an important step in enabling NFC technology adoption throughout the mobile commerce industry. It also validates the open platform approach being offered by Isis across multiple business sectors.”

Related announcements from VeriFone and Ingenico are also online.

Square has released the Square Register, a free iPad app that functions as front-counter POS system for small brick and mortar merchants. Square Register is the third leg of Square's product line, after the original card-swipe product and Square Card Case. Both are integral components of the Square Register. There is also an interesting sales analytics capability. Just watch the video.

In related news, TechCrunch is reporting that Square is on track to process $4B in purchase volume in 2012.

Barclaycard US has announced the Barclaycard Ring MasterCard card, "the first social credit card to be designed and built through the power of community crowdsourcing. Driven by the influence of an online community of cardmembers, the new card will offer a low interest rate, low fees, simple terms and the opportunity for cardmembers to shape and share in the product’s financial success."

More information is a available on the Barclaycard Ring website. This video illustrates the concept.

On the web:

• The Credit Card Is The New App Platform - Forbes
• With Mobile Internet, Money Is Up for Grabs - MIT Technology Review
• Merchant Group Lays Plans for Retailer-Controlled Mobile Payments - Digital Transactions
• Sprint to Support Google Wallet on Ten Handsets This Year - intoMobile
• Generations of Payment Innovations - Portals and Rails

On the wires:

• Shift4 Continues Expansion Into Online Payments With Magento Integration
• GuestLogix' New Global Payment Services For Airlines and Travel Operators
• Sprint Prepaid Group Selects PreCash to Develop Mobile Bill Payment App for Boost Mobile