Stored-value card

Electronic wallets (English: Electronic Purses, Inter Sector Electronic Purse - short IEP) enable cashless offline payment usually without PIN smaller amounts of money by means of smart cards. They were introduced since 1995, when chips were applied in addition to the magnetic stripe on payment cards. Electronic purses can be mounted on all plastic cards with appropriate chips.

Operation

An electronic wallet works on the " Pay Before" mode. First, their cargo is carried in a cargo terminal with an amount of money. Only then can be paid for in cash with the help of payment terminals. Charge shall be credited to a pool account, payment amounts will be charged to the pool account. However, this is only possible when a credit is available; otherwise a previous recharging is necessary. In particular, smaller amounts can be easily settled as quickly, and thus without any receiving office must always be linked.

International Overview

Electronic purses are available in many countries mostly as Community products of the respective financial institutions - including Germany ( cash card ), Austria ( Quick) and Switzerland ( Cash). It is these products are three different technological systems that are not compatible with each other. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the electronic purses are primarily on the checking account debit cards of banks. Similarly, "pure" Electronic Wallet Cards ( White Card) are offered.

Lack of international specifications and standards are there today in addition to the three above-mentioned electronic purses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland a system sprawl. Because of the diversity of systems and the associated incompatibility cross-border transactions are usually not possible and also not provided. A variety of card systems have not been able to put on the market and have been reinstated. An example is the German PayCard.

  • Belgium: Proton
  • Finland: Avant
  • France: Moneo
  • Hong Kong: Octopus card
  • Italy: Minipay
  • Japan: Two competing systems, both non-contact and can also be integrated into the mobile phone - Suica and Edy
  • Luxembourg: MiniCash
  • Netherlands: chipknip
  • Austria: Poll
  • Portugal: MEP
  • Sweden: Cash (1997-2004)
  • Switzerland: Cash
  • Spain: Monedero 4B
  • Taiwan: Easy Card
  • International: Mondex
Quick Wertkarte Easycard Prepaid telephone calls
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