OSLO, NORWAY – 31 January 2021 – Zwipe AS, a biometric fintech pioneering the development of next generation biometric solutions in payments and access control, has appointed Danielle Glenn as its new CFO and Head of IR effective from 1 May 2022.
Ms. Glenn (44) will join Zwipe from her current position as CFO of Arctic Bioscience AS, a Norwegian biotech company. While at Arctic Bioscience, Ms. Glenn managed the company’s capital markets activities including its MNOK 300 IPO on Euronext Growth Market in Oslo in February 2021. In addition to her responsibilities as CFO, she was also responsible for Investor Relations and heavily involved in setting the company’s overall strategic, commercial, operating and investment plans. At Zwipe, she will help lead the company through its next phase of international commercialization as the company approaches mass volume rollout of biometric cards withing payments and access control.
“Zwipe is continually expanding the commercial and strategic opportunities for its unique biometric technology. Danielle’s background as a CFO operating at the intersection of finance, commercial operations, technology and investor relations in fast-growing companies as well as her deep experience from international capital markets will provide us with the financial skill set we need to increase long-term stakeholder value in the coming years,” says André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
Prior to joining Arctic Bioscience, Ms. Glenn worked in several management roles with start-up and scale-up companies in Norway upon moving to Oslo in 2016. She spent the majority of her career in London and New York, working at Goldman Sachs, Caxton Associates and Bywater Capital as a global macro hedge fund manager and Chief Investment Officer. Ms. Glenn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a BA in History and Science.
“I am impressed by the innovation Zwipe is demonstrating in the fintech space, honoured by the confidence management and the Board has placed in me, and excited to help build upon Zwipe’s strong commercial and technological momentum. I very much look forward to joining a Norwegian company with global ambitions and an impressive international team,” says Ms. Glenn.
Ms. Glenn will take over from Lars Kristian Solheim who has decided to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Solheim has been the CFO since March 2020 and continues as CFO of the company through April 2022.
“On behalf of the whole management team and Board, I would like to thank Lars Kristian for his hard work and unquestionable dedication. He has acted as CFO during an important and transformative stage in our growth story, providing valuable contributions and wise counsel. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavours,” says Mr. Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
For further information, please contact:
André Løvestam
CEO of Zwipe AS
Phone: +47 934 36 952
Email: andre@zwipe.com
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation on Euronext Growth Oslo and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 13:30 CET on 31 January 2022.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. The company works across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. Zwipe is pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payments, physical & logical access control, and identification solutions. The company promises customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
OSLO, NORWAY – 20 January 2022 – Primary insider André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe AS (the "Company"), has today exercised 384,000 stock options, each giving the right to acquire one share in the Company at a strike price of NOK 10.00. The stock options have been allocated to André Løvestam under the Company's stock option incentive program. After completion of the transaction, André Løvestam will, through Energetic AS and privately, own 1,300,000 shares and hold 306,000 options, each giving the right to acquire one share in the Company.
Attached is a copy of the form submitted to the Norwegian FSA, Finanstilsynet, reporting the transaction as listed above:
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About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com
For more information, please contact:
Lars Kristian Solheim, CFO
+47 991 661 35
lars.kristian@zwipe.com
This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation on Euronext Growth Oslo and on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 12:45 CET on 20 January 2022.
OSLO, NORWAY and PARIS, FRANCE – 19 January 2022 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and K2 sas, an affiliate of Cards Systems Group (CSG) and a leading provider of payment card personalization solutions in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) have partnered to address the growing demand for biometric payment solutions in the region. Together with CSG, the parties will bring the next generation payment cards to the MEA region and France.
CSG is an international service and integrated solution provider for card management systems. Founded in 2008, it operates in over 20 countries to offer turnkey card payment and issuance solutions. The group works with major banks, personalization bureaus and card manufacturers to ensure their delivery readiness and provide the latest technology and security standards set by Mastercard, Visa and regulators. Currently CSG’s solutions are utilized by 100 customers and over 10 million payment cards annually.
Speaking on the partnership, Bassam Al Khatib, Chief Executive Officer of K2, said: “Our collaboration with Zwipe will be a catalyst in accelerating the deployment of biometric payment cards across the MEA region and France, markets well-known to us. It is time for banks to embrace next generation contactless cards using the cutting-edge biometric technology that Zwipe brings to the payment marketplace and end users. We will leverage our large network of existing bank clients to conduct multiple pilots, starting already in H1 2022, followed by commercial launches”.
Zwipe will provide K2 and CSG with technical support and services for the implementation of Zwipe Pay biometric cards including value added services for issuers. These cards will be manufactured and delivered by Zwipe’s certified smart card manufacturers in the region.
“K2 and CSG are very important additions in our fast-growing delivery ecosystem and will be a key enabler for our accelerated growth in the MEA region and France. The Group is also a highly respected brand in delivering card personalization solutions and trusted by leading banks in the entire region. I am confident that this partnership will lead to multiple commercial launches of Biometric Payment Cards,” said Ramzi Saboury, General Manager at Zwipe for MENA region.
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About K2 / Cards Systems Group
A team of EMV specialists that joined forces in 2009 to establish an aggressive and farsighted organization. K2, an affiliate of the group, was created in 2017 to find solutions ahead of time through anticipating problems that businesses might encounter in today’s dynamic market. The group serves hundreds of satisfied clients from eleven different countries spreading over four continents. CSG aspire to be the partner of choice for the card business in the Middle East and Africa region.
To learn more, visit www.k2ss.fr, cardsysa2z.com
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries, and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 6135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – 31st December 2021 – Biometric fintech company Zwipe and Forzacard, the leading domestic card manufacturer in Mexico, have agreed to develop and launch biometric cards powered by Zwipe and bring these innovations to banks and organizations looking for the latest solutions based on biometric card-authentication in Central and North America.
Forzacard is a Mexico-City based 100% Mexican company, founded in 1991, delivering more than 25 million payment cards per year across multiple countries. The company has extensive operations in Central and North America and is part of Forzaform Group, one of the oldest and most respected industrial groups in the secure printing industry. Forzacard offers a wide range of payment products and services and is a Visa, MasterCard and Carnet certified manufacturer.
“Partnering with Zwipe to develop the next generation contactless experience aligns strongly with our mission of continuous innovation. Biometric capabilities uniquely combine convenience with security and safety, uplifting the card payment experience to completely new levels. Integrating Zwipe Pay ONE into our smart card program will be key to competing and securing future business in this fast-emerging segment.” says Mauricio Benavides President of Forzaform.
Starting with biometric payment cards, Zwipe will deliver the Zwipe Pay ONE technology platform, technical guidance, and market support services as part of the agreement.
Speaking on the partnership, André Løvestam, CEO at Zwipe says “Mexico is leading the way in the adoption of biometric payment cards in Central and North America. Partnering with Forzacard in Mexico will enable us to respond to a strong and growing demand for biometric payment cards from banks and payment service providers in that region.”
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About Forzacard
Forzacard has always been at the forefront of bringing payment innovations to banks in Mexico since its inception in 1991 and part of ForzaForm S.A. de C.V., a 100% Mexican Corporation of world class. The company’s growth is driven by its wide variety of products and processed materials alongside extensive R&D and continuous investments in emerging technologies, always guaranteeing highest levels of quality and security.
About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free.
For more information contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and BEIRUT, LEBANON – 27 DECEMBER 2021 – Zwipe is pleased to announce that a medium sized bank in Levant has confirmed a pilot of biometric payment cards enabled with Zwipe Pay ONE in the first half of 2022. The bank is one of the leading brands in the wealth management segment serving thousands of high net-worth and affluent consumers. Zwipe’s single silicon biometric payment card platform has triggered a lot of interest across many markets in the Middle East where banks are well known to use modern digital platforms to deliver world-class user experience and security.
The bank will be supported with the pilot by one of Zwipe’s well-established strategic partners in the region, areeba, that was also amongst the first in the region to recognize the great potential of biometric payments when it launched pilots with many leading banks in the region in 2018. areeba is a well-recognized innovator in the region, pursuing a strategy of driving digital transformation and service excellence through modern technologies.
Speaking on this development, Maher Mikati, CEO at areeba said, “We are always seeking to make use of the latest technologies available to make life more convenient and safer for our esteemed clients. With biometric payments we will significantly enhance user experience and security of our card payment products. We are pleased to pilot the latest generation of biometric cards with Zwipe and this leading bank in wealth management and private banking in the region.”
Ramzi Saboury, General Manager of Zwipe in MENA Region said: “We are very proud that, just weeks after deciding to issue biometric payment cards for their customers in Lebanon and Iraq respectively, areeba is ready to issue biometric payment cards as a service to other issuers in collaboration with Zwipe. We are confident that the pilot will show how biometric payment cards can help the bank to attract new customers, uplift customer loyalty and ensure excellent returns from their payment portfolio. Zwipe will be supporting the bank through all stages of the pilot journey, ensuring smooth pilots with strong end user focus.”
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About areeba
areeba is an electronic payment technology company licensed by Visa and MasterCard and has an agreement with American Express & Discover. Established in 2017, areeba adopts the latest technologies and provides solutions and payment services to banks, governments and merchants to suit their aspirations and needs.
areeba offers services tailored to global requirements, from card issuance and management, non-contact payment solutions, contactless and mobile payment. It also provides merchants and governments with the latest e-commerce platform and point-of-sale machines that adopt the highest standards and safety systems. areeba operates a wide range of loyalty programs, including collecting points and miles, cashback programs, and providing consultancy services for the planning, design and development of electronic products and payment solutions.
For more information, visit www.areeba.com, or @areebalebanon on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. areeba media contact: Nouchka El Hage, +961-1-954325 - NHage@areeba.com
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com. For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY, HYDERABAD and PUNE, INDIA - 27 DECEMBER 2021 – Zwipe, KL HI-TECH and Easy Pay can confirm that they will pilot biometric payment cards in India, aiming for commercial launches by summer 2022. Easy Pay is one of the fastest growing payment brands in India whose services are used by over 2 million retail stores and millions of consumers. Zwipe is a fintech pioneering the development of next generation biometric payment solutions.
Founded in 2014, Easy Pay has grown rapidly to become a leading payment brand for merchants and consumers in India. “Paisa Nikal” is an AADHAR Enabled Payment Service (AEPS) which has been ideated and executed by Easy Pay allowing hassle-free and safe transactions for millions of users. In 2020, it processed payment transactions worth USD 8.4 billion (expected to reach USD 12 billion in 2021). Easy Pay has now decided to issue next generation biometric payment cards in collaboration with Zwipe and KL HI-TECH, Zwipe’s manufacturing partner in India.
Speaking on this development, Nilay Patel, Founder & CEO of Easy Pay said, “We are very pleased to bring the next generation contactless cards to India, enabling world-class security, safety and experience for our customers. We see many use cases for biometrics beyond payments, for example access cards for use in hotel chains, as well as high-end real-estate and smart city projects where we have long term contracts and a demanding client base. Following internal tests and external pilots we aim for commercial launches of biometric payment cards during summer of 2022.”
Besides the core biometric card technology, Zwipe will also support Easy Pay through all stages of the pilot ensuring that end users’ experiences and feedback are systematically captured and impact on business case thoroughly assessed.
André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe said, “We are proud to confirm our first pilot in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing payment markets. Easy Pay has been a pioneer in driving innovative payment services and biometrics will enable them to further drive differentiation based on security, safety, and user experience. We are delighted that our card manufacturing partner, KL HI-TECH, is part of this exciting journey which we very much look forward to pursuing together”.
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About Easy Pay
Easy Pay is an emerging Payment Solutions Company which is creating its own niche in the Fintech Industry. Formed by highly professional and technological advanced team members and backed by strong corporate ethics. The team works in bridging solutions mainly in the area of payments and bio-metrics. It is India’s upcoming payment domain that facilitates all kinds of payments for everyone and everywhere under one umbrella.
Paisa Nikal is an AADHAR Enabled Payment Service (AEPS) which is ideated & executed by Easy Pay which allows quick, hassle-free & safe transactions. This futuristic model is designed to empower retailers for making digital transactions fast & automated. We're offering comfort & convenience to both the retailers and consumers. Moreover, it even extends electronic payment services to large social strata of customers that do not have the means to pay electronically. It even manages payments for multiple institutional clients and provides them with innovative solutions for business expansion.
This unique business model allows facilitating payments with multiple modes such as cash, card, cheque, net-banking, e-wallet & etc. With much pride & enthusiasm, we're vigorously contributing to the #DigitalIndia Campaign!
Website: www.easypay.in
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
About KL HI-TECH
KL HI-TECH Secure Print Limited (KLHT) is a leading provider of secure print products and printing solutions. Commencing its operations in 1988, KLHT has played a pioneering role in enabling secure payment transactions, banking services and facilitating tele communications in India through its secure print products. At its sprawling state-of-the-art highly secure manufacturing facility located in Hyderabad, the company operates using stringent global standards that are required to manufacture a range of security printing products. The company is certified by Visa, Mastercard & RuPay (National Payments Corporation of India). As per the Nilson Report (2020) KL HI-TECH is the 2nd largest banking card manufacturer in India and 31st largest banking card manufacturer in the world.
KLHT’s business ideology revolves around the prime objective of providing comprehensive, fool-proof security in critical secure print products. KLHT plays a pivotal role by manufacturing products for Banks and Financial Institutions, Central and State Governments, Educational Boards and Institutions, Telecom Sector, Nationwide Election Commissions and Transport Sector.
Exporting to over 52 countries across the Globe, KLHT aims to become one of the leading suppliers of secure print products globally, whilst also pioneering innovation and change to the way payments are made in India and across the globe.
For further information please contact Kartik Shekar, VP – Projects, kartik@klhitech.com, +91 8008 188 466
OSLO, NORWAY – 22 December 2021 – Zwipe has received a commercial order worth MNOK 0.6 for Zwipe Pay ONE. This is the first Zwipe Pay ONE order from this card manufacturer and will be delivered in Q1 2022.
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About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY - 22 December 2021
With our eyes set on the long-awaited commercial breakthrough for Zwipe which now seems highly likely to happen in 2022, we have spent the last four years undergoing a transformation which has laid the foundation for Zwipe’s long-term success:
Each step on this journey, and each new partner and customer in our ecosystem, contributes to increasing the value creation potential and reducing the risk for Zwipe and its stakeholders. We have indeed come a long way in that regard.
A transformative year
Even on this backdrop, 2021 has been a transformative year for Zwipe:
Adding to our confidence in our future outlook is the universal evidence from numerous consumer surveys from diverse markets around the world that cardholders worldwide will benefit greatly from the touch-less and PIN-free experience with world-class security that is made possible by biometric payment and access control cards. Consumers’ strong trust in and demand for biometrics has been consistent with the findings from our industry peers and other analyst reports.
We also demonstrated Zwipe Pay ONE sample cards from several of our clients, showcased all the Zwipe Pay ONE components, and demonstrated live transactions with Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric cards, along with a range of innovative enrolment solutions, at TRUSTECH 2021 in Paris.
Figure 1: Zwipe Pay ONE based cards from Masria Digital Payments (Egypt). KL Hi-Tech (India), Tag Systems (Andorra), Toppan Forms (Hong Kong), Inkript (Lebanon) and Beautiful Cards Corporation (Taiwan).
Figure 2: Left-hand photos are the front and back of a transparent demo card based on Zwipe Pay ONE. Middle photos are the ZPO passive inlay and the ZPO enrolment sleeve, while the right-hand photos are ZPO module on reel (contact plate with single silicon secure element mounted on the back) and the IDX3405 sensor on 35mm tape.
Closing in on pilots and certification
Like most other companies engaged in multinational development projects, Zwipe has felt the effects of COVID-19 through added complexity, extended lead times and delays. I have been impressed by the grit and determination of my team and our technology partners, systematically overcoming the hurdles as they come.
Having said that, we have made good progress with many issuers that signed up for pilots through 2021. This ranges from running internal tests of biometric cards at issuers to helping their engagements with schemes and supporting them with guidance in preparing the issuing backend to process biometric payments. And feedback from customers has been great; “Paying has been super easy and fast”. That’s exactly what you want to hear from the field!
Next milestone is the submission of Zwipe Pay ONE based reference cards for certification by both VISA and Mastercard. Zwipe’s technology partner, Idemia, announced in November 2021, that it had obtained full certification from both schemes for its F.CODE biometric payment card. These certifications (Letters of Approval) represent full validation of the core components in our Zwipe Pay ONE platform, notably the shared single silicon biometric secure element, where Idemia and Zwipe have co-invested since 2019, and the IDX3405 fingerprint sensor from Idex Biometrics.
The Zwipers
Last, and most importantly, I want to express my deep gratitude to the exceptional Team of Zwipers around the world whose passion and grit continued to create so much value for our customers, partners, and shareholders through this challenging pandemic which has taken its toll on everyone. The purpose of our efforts is to give everyone the power of access by being themselves no matter where they are or who they are.
My sincere thanks also go out to all our customers, partners, and shareholders for sharing our mission and supporting our journey.
I wish each one of you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!
OSLO, NORWAY and BAGHDAD, IRAQ – 22 December 2021 - Zwipe and International Network for Cards and Digital Payment Services (INC) are pleased to confirm that they will pilot Biometric Payment Cards in Iraq. This will be the first biometric payment card pilot in the country. As one of the fastest growing cards and payments companies in Iraq, INC will be offering issuance of white label biometric cards as a service for banks and other payment companies.
In collaboration with Zwipe, INC will incorporate biometric payment cards in its portfolio and offer it as a standard payment product to its client banks in the Iraqi market, with the first client being INC’s own NEO Visa cards which will be introduced as the first biometric plastic cards in Iraq.
This development was made possible through INC’s strategic partner Nymcard which confirmed in September 2021 its collaboration with the Norwegian technology company Zwipe to bring biometric payment cards to the MENA region.
Speaking on this development, Zaid Fawzi, CEO and Founder of INC, said: “We are proud to step up our collaboration with Zwipe and bring the next generation contactless experience to Iraq. Our partnership with Zwipe has greatly strengthened INC’s mission to deliver payment solutions with state-of-the-art security and world-class user experience. Our pilot in Iraq with the NEO Visa cards will be the first step in bringing this fantastic product to other players in the market.”
General Manager for MENA region at Zwipe, Ramzi Saboury said: “Our partnership with NymCard and its subsidiaries in the region such as INC will greatly accelerate the deployment of next generation contactless cards. I am happy to launch this pilot project with INC in Iraq - a large market with huge growth potential. It is worth mentioning that the Central Bank of Iraq has already endorsed our initiative to bring biometric payment cards to Iraq and is encouraging all Iraqi banks to be part of this exciting innovation.”
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About INC
The International Network for Cards and digital payment services (INC) is an Iraqi registered company and holds a license as Issuer and Processor to practice business in electronic payments from the Central Bank of Iraq No. (7) according to Law No. (56) issued in 2004. Through its NEO brand, INC has released a state of the art mobile app featuring a digital wallet, and enabled online card payments to its customers via the first virtual Visa card in Iraq, in addition to other card programs such as NEO Visa Gift and NEO Visa Travel, available as physical plastic cards with the aim to increase financial inclusion in the Iraqi market.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for both payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 15 December 2021 – One of the largest global providers of payment services has signed an agreement to work with Zwipe to evaluate the opportunity of bringing Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric payment cards to issuers in North America and beyond.
In June 2021, Zwipe and IDEX Biometrics studied the payment habits, concerns on COVID-19 and desire for safer and more secure payments of over 1,000 consumers across the US and Canada. The study showed a strong demand for biometric payment cards in the US with 77% (81% in Canada) of the respondents wanting their next payment card to be biometric. In addition, 61% in the US (63% in Canada) said that they would be willing to pay a monthly fee to obtain such a card. Both organizations believe that the timing is right for this product and will be working together over the coming months to present the biometric payment card proposition to select customers with the aim of securing pilots and subsequent commercial launches.
“We are delighted to be entering this agreement with one of the largest and most respected payment service providers in the world. This agreement will provide the opportunity to accelerate the adoption of next generation biometric payment cards in some of the largest credit card markets in the world. We look forward to a mutually rewarding partnership,” said André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
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This is information that Zwipe AS is obligated to make public pursuant to the continuing obligations of companies admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Oslo, Nasdaq First North Growth Market and the EU Market Abuse Regulation. Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North is FNCA Sweden AB, info@fnca.se, +46 (0) 8528 00 399. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 17:30 CET on 15 December 2021.
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and CAIRO, EGYPT – 15 December 2021 - Zwipe and Masria Digital Payments are pleased to announce the first biometric payment card pilot with an Egyptian bank. This will be the first pilot in Africa to deploy the next generation biometric cards from Zwipe. The largest smart card manufacturer in Egypt, Masria Digital Payments (MDP), will supply Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric cards and play a key role in bringing the next payment experience to the Egyptian market and other African countries.
The biometric payment cards, built on the unique single silicon platform Zwipe Pay ONE, deliver world-class security and a completely touch-less user experience, leading to improved customer loyalty and a strong business case for banks. Across many markets globally and especially the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Zwipe has experienced a strong and growing demand in biometric payment cards from banks and payment service providers.
Speaking on this development, Vice President of MDP, Ahmed Nafei, said: “We are proud to be piloting next generation contactless cards in Egypt for the first time. Seeing a strong interest from our bank clients, we are confident that this first pilot in Egypt, which is with a medium sized bank, is one of many to come. MDP has always been at the forefront of bringing payment innovations to banks. During the pandemic, we have seen growing demand for touch-less checkout as it is safer and much more hygienic which is exactly what this innovation brings. Zwipe is a global leader in biometric payment technologies, and we are thrilled to collaborate with them. We aim for a pilot in early 2022, followed by a commercial launch.”
Chief Commercial Office at Zwipe, John Goodale said: “We are honored that the Zwipe Pay ONE platform has been selected to deliver pilots and commercial launches in Egypt. Zwipe and MDP have worked very closely over the past few months to bring both the product and overall commercial proposition to the Egyptian market, and we are delighted that banks have responded so positively. We look forward to launching this exciting new product with the bank and supporting it all the way through the pilot and into the commercial launch.”
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About Masria Digital Payments (MDP)
Masria Digital Payments (previously Masria Card S.A.E) is Africa's leading smart card solutions provider with a regional presence spanning 35 countries and 3 continents. Building on its vast sector experience, MDP has consistently introduced the latest technology in cards, payment security and smart applications to the Middle East and African markets. MDP also provides its partners with a complete card offering ranging from card production, personalization, issuance and fulfilment as a service or as a solution. MDP is the only end to end fully certified African payments solutions provider to offer a full card services, solutions, processing and digital payment suites to clients in the financial, government and retail sector under one roof.
For more information, please visit MDP | Home (mdp-eg.com)
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries and cultures to make convenience safe and secure. We are pioneering next-generation biometric card and wearables technology for payment and physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 29 November 2021 – GEPCOM, one of oldest and most respected card production and printing facilities in the Arab world, has selected the Zwipe Pay ONE platform to deliver biometric payment cards to its clients in Saudi Arabia and key international markets. Zwipe is a FinTech that has pioneered the development of biometric payment cards and delivered many successful pilots globally.
Gulf Printing Products Manufacturers’ Factory (GEPCOM), founded in 1989, was the first to bring plastic card manufacturing technology to the Arab world. This announcement demonstrates that they are continuing the path of innovation today. Leveraging their investment in the latest manufacturing equipment, and with full VISA and Mastercard certification, they are able to create a range of high-quality products to serve the financial services industry.
GEPCOM engaged with Zwipe earlier in 2021 and, after extensive evaluation of available alternatives, selected Zwipe Pay ONE as the preferred biometric card platform for its next generation payment cards. They were especially interested in Zwipe’s end to end products and services including Zwipe’s range of enrolment options providing GEPCOM with an opportunity to create even further value for their clients.
According to Abdullah Ahmed Abed, Deputy General Manager & Regional Director, GEPCOM, “GEPCOM has been manufacturing card products for all sectors in the Middle-East and is recognized in the market for its unmatched service, transparency and quality. With the impact of the pandemic still being felt across Saudi and the world, consumers’ focus on safety and hygiene has increased significantly.”
As part of this agreement, Zwipe will provide biometric technology and technical services to enable GEPCOM to manufacture Zwipe Pay ONE test cards from Q1 2022. The partners are already jointly engaging with issuers in Saudi with the aim of launching pilots from Q2 2022 to be followed by full commercial roll outs.
“In collaboration with Zwipe, we will deliver payment cards that will enable payments to be completely touch-less through a PIN-free checkout experience for consumers with much higher security. Our assessment shows that Zwipe Pay ONE represents the most advanced and high-performing solution and will be the first mass-market viable platform”, said Yousef Ahmed Abed, General Manager, GEPCOM.
Commenting on this partnership, Ramzi Saboury, General Manager MENA region at Zwipe, said: “We are very pleased to announce our partnership with GEPCOM in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the most important markets in the MENA region. We are seeing a strong appetite globally as well as in the Middle East for this new technology from issuers, processors and cardholders. I am confident that this partnership will accelerate deployment of biometric cards in Saudi. Zwipe will be supporting GEPCOM’s clients during their launch processes to ensure the best customer experience and successful commercialization”.
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About GEPCOM
Gulf Printing Products Manufacturers’ Factory (GEPCOM) was founded by Mr. Ahmad Taleb Abed. For over 26 years, GEPCOM has been manufacturing printing products for all sectors in the Middle-East and the Arab world, leading by example since its establishment in 1989.GEPCOM was the first to bring plastic card manufacturing technology to the Arab world and continues on a path of innovation today, with only the most advanced machines and equipment for the fabrication of excellent products including cards, envelopes, security forms, adhesive label rolls, thermal rolls and more. We provide customers worldwide with unmatched service and transparency and believe in uncompromised quality when it comes to all our products. GEPCOM is proudly certified by VISA and MasterCard, in addition to its ISO certification for product quality assurance.
GEPCOM’s vision is to become the benchmark of outstanding service across all industries. We take pride in providing exceptional results in everything that we set out to do, and work unswervingly to ensure the success of our business.
For further information please contact info@gepcom.com.sa
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering biometric payment card and wearables technology, and biometric technology for physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY; AUSTIN and CONCORDVILLE, USA; LIMOGES, FRANCE – 25 November 2021 - Zwipe, a Norway-based biometric fintech, is proud to announce the launch of a two-factor authentication solution for access control based on its biometric authentication technology platform. The global access control market is valued at USD 7.65 billion and is expected to reach USD 11.7 billion by 2026 (1).
Entering the access control market, Zwipe announces collaborations with several well-known companies in the security industry; notably HID Global, an ASSA ABLOY Group brand and a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, LeGrand, the global specialist in high-value-added products and solutions for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings, and Southco, the leading global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions. The coalition will bring a highly advanced, cost-effective, biometric authentication solution to market. The full capability of Zwipe's biometric card operates with existing access control systems thereby removing the need to make any time-consuming and costly adjustments to existing access control infrastructure.
The complete solution will be demonstrated for the first time at TRUSTECH in Paris, on Zwipe’s booth, from 30 November 2021.
Commenting on this breakthrough, André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe, said “Thanks to Zwipe’s advanced biometric authentication technology platform, Zwipe is ready to move into adjacent markets, starting with Access Control. We see a real need for much stronger access control solutions and are confident that our biometric card solution will address many security concerns in this space. We are particularly proud to partner with such distinguished companies and we look forward to adding significant value to this sector with our solution. I am convinced Access Control and ID will be a significant business line for Zwipe going forward, adding to our profitable growth and long-term value creation.”
The customer project has started with Raritan (the data center expert company with worldwide references and a subsidiary of LeGrand), focusing on the joint development of a highly secure solution based on Zwipe’s biometric card technology that delivers a new level of secure access for data center cabinets.
Raritan’s CTO, Swen Anderson, commented “It was crucial that we developed a product that allowed us to deploy the latest in biometric technology without having to make any infrastructure changes. Zwipe has provided us with the opportunity to leverage their leading technology platform to create a new product that delivers a level of security for data center access control that is unique within our industry.”
“Thanks to this excellent cooperation based on real use cases, the full integrity of our biometric card solution has been successfully demonstrated for new areas of application. Our biometric authentication technology platform provides world-class security and we are excited that it can be integrated seamlessly with physical and logical access control solutions. We believe innovations like biometric access control and ID management will be highly sought after,” says Christian Vaas, Zwipe’s Vice President ID-Solutions & Access Control.
(1): Global Access Control Market | 2021 - 26 | Industry Share, Size, Growth - Mordor Intelligence
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
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About HID Global
HID Global powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions, hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID Global has over 4,000 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.
About Legrand
Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings—including Eliot* connected products with enhanced value in use. Legrand reported sales of €6.1 billion in 2020. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40 and CAC 40 ESG indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819) www.legrandgroup.com
About Southco
Southco, Inc. is the leading global designer and manufacturer of engineered access solutions. For over 70 years, Southco has helped the world’s most recognized brands create value for their customers with unrivalled engineering resources and innovative products. Southco’s data center solutions provide access control and monitoring at the rack level, providing a complete, comprehensive security system to control, monitor and track equipment that stores sensitive data.
To learn more, visit www.southco.com and www.southco.com for our Data Center mini-site.
For further information, please contact: Natalie Brannelly nbrannelly@southco.com
About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering biometric payment card and wearables technology, and biometric technology for physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY, 25 November 2021 - Zwipe launches a range of enrolment solutions to complement their next-generation biometric payment card platform, Zwipe Pay ONE. Seamless customer onboarding remains one of the most important components in enabling the transition to the safer and more secure payment experience provided by biometric payment cards.
The Zwipe R&D team has created some exclusive inventions to overcome several challenges that many in the industry had considered insurmountable. For the first time, it is now a realistic proposition to have consumers enroll their card at home using just a mobile phone and a set of simple instructions.
Zwipe has created a range of innovative enrolment solutions that meet the evolving demands of the financial services industry and consumers. With a focus on providing simple to use, cost-effective and low environmental impact products, Zwipe will deliver multiple different types of solutions that include not only passive and customizable enrolment devices, such as sleeves, highly integrated card fulfilment packaging, and branch-based enrolment solutions, but also self-service mobile phone APIs that can easily be integrated into issuer apps. Issuers can choose the solutions that best suit their needs and use cases of their products and cardholder segments. For example, while mobile app-based enrolment would be attractive for the majority of consumers, in-branch supervised enrolment may better suit financial inclusion programs.
All these solutions will be made available to Zwipe Pay ONE customers in 2022.
“Zwipe has undertaken extensive research on enrolment, and after very clear customer feedback and interest, we decided to invest heavily in this area. Issuers repeatedly told us that enrolment is one of the most important parts of the user experience for biometric payment cards and we are delighted to have made several breakthroughs that we believe will transform the way in which consumers enrol their cards whilst even further strengthening the value proposition for issuers. These developments underscore Zwipe’s ambition to be a leading innovator in the industry, putting user experience in front”, commented André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe.
The enrolment solutions will be demonstrated at TRUSTECH in Paris, on Zwipe’s booth, from 30 November 2021.
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135, info@zwipe.com
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About Zwipe
Zwipe believes the inherent uniqueness of every person is the key to a safer future. We work with great passion across networks of international organizations, industries & cultures to make convenience safe & secure. We are pioneering biometric payment card and wearables technology, and biometric technology for physical & logical access control and identification solutions. We promise our customers and partners deep insight and frictionless solutions, ensuring a seamless user experience with our innovative biometric products and services. Zwipe is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – 22 November 2021 – Biometric fintech company, Zwipe and NetPS, part of dzcard Group and one of the main Moroccan Smart Card Personalization Bureaus, are partnering to bring Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric payment cards to banks across Africa and the Middle East.
As part of this collaboration, both companies will work closely to promote the innovative Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric payment cards for NetPS’ issuers in Africa and the Middle East.
NetPS has a portfolio of more than 30 clients based in 15 countries across Africa. The company, which is based in Morocco, provides its first-class card personalization services to major financial institutions in the region, such as Banque Central Populaire (BCP), Société Générale, Credit Agricole du Maroc, Attijariwafa Bank, Al Barid Bank, CIH, and major Telecom operators including Maroc Telecom (part of Etisalat Group).
“As a leading provider of payment cards across Africa, we believe adding Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric payment cards to our portfolio creates a compelling and differentiating product to our clients. We are looking forward to working with the Zwipe team on developing some very innovative and exciting card designs, fulfillment solutions and enrolment options. We believe this new product will drive new business and significantly uplift customer loyalty for our clients.”, said Younes Lahlou, CEO of NetPS.
Speaking on the new partnership, André Løvestam, CEO of Zwipe said: “We are really pleased with the response across the Middle East and North Africa for Zwipe Pay ONE and are delighted to partner with NetPS in extending our reach to Morocco and beyond. With this partnership with NetPS, our dzcard Group relationship is strengthened further, giving us the opportunity to deliver next generation payment cards to the many banks looking for a more safe and secure payment card in the region. NetPS has a very strong reputation for customer service and excellence in their market and are an ideal partner for Zwipe”.
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About NetPS, part of dzcard Group
Founded in 2000, NetPS, a subsidiary of the dzcard Group, is one of the leading players in the field of smart card personalization in Morocco. The company has been certified by Visa and Mastercard since 2000. The company is a trusted partner among its Moroccan banking and telco clients supporting their African expansion with world class solutions and service.
To learn more, visit the NetPS webpage: www.NetPS.com
About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free.
To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com
For further information, please contact Mr. André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY and BEIRUT, LEBANON – 17 November 2021 – Zwipe is partnering with areeba to pilot Biometric payment cards based on Zwipe Pay ONE in Lebanon and Iraq. These pilots reflect a strong and growing demand from issuers and processors across the region for next-generation contactless payment cards.
areeba is a leading financial technology company in the MENA region and is licensed as both issuer and acquirer by the international card schemes. It is one of the main issuing & acquiring processors in the region and leads in the Lebanese market with more than 50% market share. areeba was chosen as one of the top leading payments innovators in 2021 by Global Business Leaders.
areeba and Zwipe have a long-standing collaboration, launching the first biometric payment card pilots in the Middle East in 2018 and winning the 2019 Seamless Award for Best Technological Innovation in Payments.
Speaking on this development, Maher Mikati, Chief Executive Officer at areeba said, “We have always been pioneers in embracing new technologies that enhance user experience and security for end consumers, uplifting loyalty and business cases of payment portfolio. We are proud to partner with Zwipe, a highly respected innovator with whom we have had the pleasure to collaborate since 2018, witnessing the evolution of biometric payment cards. We are looking forward to delivering the pilots in H1 2022 followed by commercial launches.”
In these pilots, the biometric payment cards will be built on the Zwipe Pay ONE platform and delivered by Inkript, one of the leading EMV Card Manufacturers in the Middle East, which already provides cards to areeba and many issuers in the region.
Ramzi Saboury, General Manager of Zwipe in the MENA Region said: “We are proud of our partnership with areeba, a leading innovator in the region, and look forward to supporting them and Inkript in bringing biometric payment cards to two markets, Lebanon and Iraq. Zwipe will also support areeba through all stages of pilots, ensuring that end users’ experiences and feedback are systematically captured and assessed. This is going to be an exciting journey together.”
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About areeba
areeba is an electronic payment technology company licensed by Visa and MasterCard and has an agreement with American Express & Discover. Established in 2017, areeba adopts the latest technologies and provides solutions and payment services to banks, governments and merchants to suit their aspirations and needs.
areeba offers services tailored to global requirements, from card issuance and management, non-contact payment solutions, contactless and mobile payment. It also provides merchants and governments with the latest e-commerce platform and point-of-sale machines that adopt the highest standards and safety systems. areeba operates a wide range of loyalty programs, including collecting points and miles, cashback programs, and providing consultancy services for the planning, design and development of electronic products and payment solutions.
For more information, visit www.areeba.com, or @areebalebanon on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. areeba media contact: Nouchka El Hage, +961-1-954325 - NHage@areeba.com
About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards components and wearables technology that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free.
To learn more, visit zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 info@zwipe.com
OSLO, NORWAY – 9 November 2021 – The primary insider Diderik Schonheyder, a board member of Zwipe, has today acquired a total of 13,434 shares at an average price of SEK 29.90. Diderik Schonheyder’s shareholding after the transaction is 25,302 shares.
Attached is a copy of the form submitted to the Norwegian FSA, Finanstilsynet, reporting the transaction as listed above:
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements in Regulation EU 596/2014 article 19 number 3 and the Norwegian Securities Trading Act § 5-12.
About Zwipe
Zwipe is pioneering the next generation contactless payments experience, providing biometric payment cards and wearables that enable consumers to authorize transactions with their fingerprints without compromising their privacy. Together with an ecosystem of partners including global brands within digital security and financial services, Zwipe is "Making Convenience Safe & Secure" for banks, merchants and consumers. Zwipe's solutions address the hygiene and data theft pitfalls inherent in traditional authentication methods. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with a global presence, Zwipe is leading the next great shift in payments from contactless to contact free. To learn more, visit www.zwipe.com
For further information please contact: André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135 ir@zwipe.com
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OSLO, NORWAY – 3 November 2021 - Zwipe’s technology partner, Idemia, has announced that it has obtained full certification from both VISA and Mastercard for its F.CODE biometric payment card.
These certifications (Letters of Approval) represent full validation of the core components in our disruptive technology platform, Zwipe Pay ONE, notably the shared single silicon biometric secure element, where Idemia and Zwipe have co-invested since Q4 2019, and the IDX3405 fingerprint sensor from Idex Biometrics.
This paves the way for subsequent successful certification of Zwipe Pay ONE enabled biometric payment cards for Zwipe’s customers, as Zwipe is working towards completion of its Zwipe Pay ONE platform. Zwipe Pay ONE includes Zwipe’s ISO Module integrating the now fully certified single silicon biometric secure element, as well as Zwipe’s passive inlay. Zwipe’s customers can also purchase the fully validated Idex Biometrics fingerprint sensor, IDX3405, from Zwipe. The timing for certification of Zwipe’s card manufacturing customers will be subject to the planning and execution of the certification by each customer.
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For further information, please contact:
André Løvestam, CEO, +47 991 66 135
info@zwipe.com
