John and Doves,

The technological advances in banking are rapidly accelerating and there are many new terms to understand.
I find the following url to be very helpful www.cr80news.com

Differences in Debiting
There is a difference between debiting a Stored Value account and debiting in Real Time
electronic funds transfer.
There is a difference between Online debiting and Offline debiting
and there is a difference between PIN-based debiting and Signature based debiting.

All of this is explained at
http://www.cr80news.com/library/2004/10/04/all-debit-cards-are-not-created-equal-understanding-online-and-offline-debit/

Also the upcoming ID World International Congress will take place in Barcelona, Spain.
November 17-19, 2004
http://www.idworldonline.com/

It was at last years ID World held in Paris where they announced VeriPay. So it will be interesting to see what comes out of this meeting. As you remember, Barcelona was the birthplace of subdermal chip purchases for VIP members of the Baja Beach Club last April.

Also on October 26-28,  the Biometric Summit  2004 will be held in New York City
"We need to take a step back and look at what using biometrics technologies which allow government and businesses to track, store and compare in detail people's movements and behaviors means for people's personal privacy.
What impacts will these new technologies have on the freedoms Americans expect in their day-to-day lives?
How will government agencies and businesses that use this technology keep the data secure and confidential?
Under what circumstances will data be shared?"

" Is the future of authentication biometrics ready for prime time?
Who will lead the charge and how will biometrics proliferate in the financial community?
Will the average person embrace biometrics as the tool to access a payment instrument? "
http://www.aliconferences.com/conferences/biometricssummit/1004.html

May You come quickly Lord Jesus,
Jim Goodrick