EMVCo, LLC, was formed in February 1999 by Europay International, MasterCard International and Visa International to manage, maintain and enhance the EMV Integrated Circuit Card Specifications for Payment Systems. The specifications developed define a set of requirements to ensure interoperability between chip cards and terminals on a global basis, regardless of the manufacturer, the financial institution, or where the card is used. EMVCo Type Approval testing is divided into two levels. EMV Level 1 is the stringent test criteria mandated by EMVCo that assesses all of the physical and electrical functionality of the smart card interfaces used in both products. It also ensures that EMV cards can perform transactions correctly and without damage to chips on the cards or the data on the smart card chip itself. Level 2 Type Approval tests compliance with debit/credit application requirements.

The PayCell® MPT500 is a hand held portable transaction terminal that supports multiple card interfaces and delivers transactions across the widest range of wireless communications networks possible. These include GSM/GPRS/Wireless LAN and even Blue tooth. The POSMate 100 is an innovative and fully Secure PIN Entry Device (PED) designed for CHIP and PIN verification at a retailer based integrated Point of Sale. Both The PayCell® MPT 500 and the Posmate®100 are high performance portable solutions designed to meet card based transaction requirements in the payment, retail and transport/ticketing industries

Now that Thyron’s PayCell IFM has achieved EMV Level 1 certification, Thyron has submitted its EMV Level 2 kernel for EMV 4.0 Level 2 certification. Thyron has also submitted both the MPT500 and the Posmate for the VISA PED certification process designed to test security on keypads that support secure PIN entry.

Nigel Cullum, Head of Business Development at Thyron comments, “By submitting our new chip and PIN compliant devices into tight, but well controlled certification processes, Thyron is showing its commitment to meeting the demands of retailers for innovative and cost effective solutions to meet the demand for Chip payment devices during 2004”.

Note: This press release recognises, and is compliant with, appropriate EMVCo terms and conditions. Details can be found at www.emvco.com

About EMVCo. EMVCo, LLC, was formed in February 1999 by Europay International, MasterCard International and Visa International to manage, maintain and enhance the EMV Integrated Circuit Card Specifications for Payment Systems as technology advances and the implementation of chip card programs become more prevalent. The formation of EMVCo ensures that single terminal and card approval processes are developed at a level that will allow cross payment system interoperability through compliance with the EMV specifications.

About Thyron Systems: Thyron Systems is a UK based manufacturing company focused on the provision of enabling mobile and payment transactions through the use of innovative and practical designed hardware and software solutions. Originally founded in 1989, Thyron already has a well established name in the Banking and Payments industry, providing mobile payment and secure smart card enabled transaction solutions. Since 1994 with the introduction of one of the worlds first portable credit/debit card transaction terminals through to one of the worlds first GSM enabled payment terminals, the PayCell in 1999, Thyron have been at the fore front of creating cost effective solutions for delivering “payments on the move” with clients ranging from payment card acquirers, to GSM operators through to Transportation authorities

For more information see: www.thyron.com