Credit Cards Online Information

US research company Jupiter Communications and its European survey provider Ipsos have released a new study about the attitudes and behaviour of European Internet users.

The survey, which questioned 19,000 households in France, Germany, Britain and the Scandinavian countries, reveals that 57% of online shoppers are motivated by better prices while just 42% are motivated by better security for their credit cards and/or personal information to purchase products online.

Among Scandinavian shoppers the importance of better prices over increased security seems to be even more marked with 62% citing better prices compared to 50% in France, Germany and the UK.

The study also shows that Scandinavian users more frequently conduct information-related activities. Almost half (49%) of the Scandinavian respondents stated that they had used the Internet to investigate travel arrangements compared to just 24% in Britain, France and Germany.
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In addition, 40% of the Scandinavians had visited web sites and online channels about health or medicine and 26% had conducted online personal banking. The corresponding figures for the three other countries were 17% and 14%.

LIBRARIES ARE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT of a nation's information infrastructure, yet often they are invisible to their users and other stakeholders. In the context of this special issue, the paper presents four challenges faced by libraries and proposes research designs to address each of them. The four challenges involve: 1. invisible infrastructure, 2. content and collections, 3. preservation and access, and 4. institutional boundaries. I propose a mixture of research methods that includes surveys, case studies, documentary analyses, and policy analyses. Only with a better understanding of these challenges can libraries find their best fit in the information infrastructure of our networked world.

INTRODUCTION

Computer and communication networks now encircle the globe. Despite the oft-repeated claim that half the world's population has never made a telephone call, we receive daily television, radio, and newspaper reports filed via satellite from Afghanistan, one of the planet's least-developed countries. Many of these reports become available almost immediately on the Internet. Information technologies have become ubiquitous in the developed world and widely available elsewhere.
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An increasing proportion of communication and commerce takes place via computer networks. Friends, family, colleagues, and strangers rely on e-mail to maintain relationships and to transact business. Most of the activities of writing, editing, and publishing involve computers and networks regardless of whether the final product appears online or on paper, making "electronic publishing" a misnomer. Even in the "old economy," orders are placed, invoices are paid, and credit cards are verified and charged via computer networks. Individuals turn to the Internet as a primary source for all sorts of information--health, hobbies, homework, news, shopping, music, games, research, and general curiosity.

Libraries are but one of many institutions that could no longer function without computer networks, at least in the developed world. Libraries depend upon computer networks as a means to provide access to local and remote information resources. While physical materials continue to form the core of most library collections, fewer and fewer services require that users physically enter the library building. Even artifacts such as books can be ordered online for delivery to one's home or office.

A paradox of the networked world is that as libraries become more embedded in the information infrastructure of universities, communities, governments, corporations, and other entities, the less visible they may become to their users, funders, and policy-makers. Libraries must be integral components of the information infrastructure of their organizations if they are to provide the most effective, efficient, and appropriate services to their user communities. Independence and isolation are not suitable alternatives.

Historically, libraries have played key roles in information-oriented societies. Yet today, some of their roles are being duplicated by other public institutions such as archives and museums and by commercial providers of content and services. Individuals and organizations now have many information sources alternative to those provided by libraries, which would suggest that the role of libraries is shrinking. However, libraries are expanding to include a wider array of services, such as providing digital libraries and support for distance learning. Despite this broader scope, libraries exist in a competitive environment, facing greater demands for services and often with fewer resources to meet those demands.

Libraries can and should play key roles in the emerging global information infrastructure. To do so, they must address a number of complex challenges. Research on these challenges will assist libraries in identifying and accomplishing their roles in a global information infrastructure. The four challenges for libraries are introduced in a recent book (Borgman, 2000). Here I extend and update those issues, frame them as research questions, and suggest methods to explore them.

INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE

A first step in exploring the role of libraries in a global information infrastructure is to consider what is meant by "infrastructure." Familiar phrases such as "national information infrastructure" and "global information infrastructure" are rarely accompanied by clear definitions of the underlying concepts. Star and Ruhleder (1996) were among the first to describe infrastructure as a social and technical construct. Their eight dimensions can be paraphrased as follows: An infrastructure is embedded in other structures, social arrangements, and technologies. It is transparent, in that it invisibly supports tasks. Its reach or scope may be spatial or temporal, in that it reaches beyond a single event or a single site of practice. Infrastructure is learned as part of membership of an organization or group. It is linked with conventions of practice of day-to-day work. Infrastructure is the embodiment of standards, so that other tools and infrastructures can interconnect in a standardized way. It builds upon an installed base, inheriting both strengths and limitations from that base. And infrastructure becomes visible upon breakdown, in that we are most aware of it when it fails to work--when the server is down, the electrical power grid fails, or the highway bridge collapses.

A survey expected to be released soon reportedly found that retailers are more likely to say that online fraud involving credit cards is a problem, even though losses being absorbed by merchants may be down slightly from a year ago.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the survey conducted for CyberSource Corp. by Mindwave Research found that 83 percent of merchants who sell online say fraud is a problem, up from 75 percent who said the same thing a year ago. However, the companies interviewed estimated that they lose, on average, 4 percent of online revenue to credit-card fraud, down from 5 percent a year ago.

Still, the survey of 132 companies, which the Wall Street Journal said including pure e-tailers and clicks-and-mortar operations, discovered that while online shopping accounts for just 5 percent of all credit-card transactions, it was the source of 50 percent of all fraud involving cards. The survey also found that 28 percent of merchants surveyed were not aware that they were responsible for the losses generated by online credit-card fraud.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Corillian Corp. (NASDAQ: CORI), the top provider of online banking, payment and security solutions to the financial services industry, today announced that Credit Union Electronic Transaction Services (CUETS), a provider of MasterCard(R) issuing and acquiring products and services to over 450 credit unions, caisses populaires and other organizations throughout Canada, has selected Corillian Credit Card Management as its foundation for a next-generation online credit card management solution.

Through Corillian Credit Card Management, CUETS' clients will have a feature-rich solution to deliver new and innovative online services to their members and customers. Included in the solution will be eStatements and Alerts modules to enhance the self-service capabilities of the online credit card site. End users will be able to view all of their account information in real-time, set up alerts to be proactively notified of new changes to their accounts and store up to 12 months of statement history. Also, the flexibility of Corillian Credit Card Management will allow each affiliate organization to create a unique brand and navigation to each site to create user loyalty.

"More and more consumers are turning to the Internet to take control of managing their financial accounts," said Alex Hart, president and CEO of Corillian. "Financial institutions and other organizations are looking for ways to take advantage of this growing adoption by delivering compelling online services and a unique online experience to their users. Corillian Credit Card Management incorporates industry-leading functionality and usability best practices to enable organizations like CUETS to be at the forefront of online financial services and set themselves and their clients apart from the competition."

cUETS' CIO Tom Kindred noted that the partnership with Corillian will also help CUETS' clients create greater brand recognition and become more competitive in the online channel. "Our mission is to provide world-class products and services to our clients, and the online channel is of strategic importance to us and our clients," Kindred said. "Corillian Credit Card Management will help us take our online services to the next level and help our clients provide a superior online experience to their members and customers."

Corillian Credit Card Management will seamlessly interface in real-time with CUETS' back-end systems, providing unparalleled ease-of-use. Key features and benefits available in Corillian Credit Card Management include:

--Real-Time Access: Provides real-time access to balances, current and historical transactions, downloading transactions, payment due dates, credit limits, cash advance limits, finance charges and rewards programs.

--eStatements: Offers the cardholders the convenience of receiving an electronic version of their monthly statement online as well as the ability to sort and categorize transactions. Along with the suppression of paper printing, online administrative tools are offered to manage exception processing.

--Alerts: Offers increased cardholder loyalty by delivering email message notifications when account or specific transactional events such as credit limit reached or payment is due events are triggered.

--Self-Service Functionality: Offers a comprehensive range of self-service functionality, including the ability to request credit limit changes, replace or add cards, change addresses, secure online inquiries, dispute transactions, order checks and change passwords.

About Corillian Corporation

Corillian is the market leader of online banking, payment and security solutions to the financial services industry. With 29 of the top 100 U.S. banks and 21 of the top 100 U.S. credit unions as customers, Corillian serves over 30 million online banking users. Corillian provides the most flexible, scalable and secure set of online banking applications across multiple lines of business, integrating best-practice functionality developed for some of the most innovative financial institutions in the world. Corillian's fraud prevention solutions use Preemptive Forensics(TM) to protect web sites from phishers, hackers, and fraudsters. Corillian's strong authentication solution provides a low-cost solution for multi-factor authentication while maintaining high user satisfaction. Corillian features integrated applications across Consumer Banking, Small Business Banking, Wealth Management, Credit Card Management, and Corporate Cash Management, as well as enterprise wide solutions, including Fraud Detection, Payments Warehouse, Alerts, eStatements, and OFX. Empowered by Corillian solutions

PERUSING THE pages of amazon.co.uk for something to read (what else are you to do when eating lunch al desko?), I came across a book called Behind with the Mortgage and Living off Plastic (subtitled 'Charge up your life, not your credit card') by Lynette Allen.

Now, that sounds like the kind of information I need, so although it isn't published until 13 October, I used my powerful position as hack for hire to get an early copy " for your benefit, you understand, as much as mine.

It's a chunky little tome with plenty of pink on the cover (why do publishers think all women flock to fuchsia?) and the author pictured in a ballgown surrounded by glossy carrier-bags. Not a scenario I've ever found myself in, but I get the message, which is not so subliminally screaming: 'You are a spendaholic!' With a sky- high stack of credit-card statements and impending urgent winter- coats-for-children crisis, I think I should investigate.

Using Lynette's advice to close my eyes, picture what I'm worried about, then flick the pages randomly " the 'logic' being that it will fall open just where I need it most " I alight on a section titled Divine Intervention.
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Paraphrasing wildly, what follows is the story of Julia, up to her ears in debt and in crisis. Out of the blue, a friend calls and asks her how much money she would need to clear her debts. A great deal, Julia admits. The friend, it turns out, has been left a fortune, and will be only too happy to oblige. Julia, you see, needed an angel to give her a sign and, wings flapping, the angel appeared down a BT line.

If you are gagging on your Earl Grey at this heartwarming anecdote, you're like me. It's the kind of empowerment crap that fills acres of space in bookshops (which is why I was online rather than in Borders, where new age is the new everything).

But everyone deserves a fair chance, so I dived back in. In fact, little in the book is about finances, but there is a handy quiz for women to work out what kind of spender they are. Here's a sample: 'You've had the day from hell. You're leaving the office, hungry and cold, when you realise there's no food in the house. You nip into the nearest supermarket with the intention of buying dinner, but mysteriously find yourself in the clothes section, choosing a new pair of shoes to make yourself feel better " after all, you deserve it! a) Yes, I would do that; b) I have been known to do that occasionally; c) No, I wouldn't do that.'

Putting aside questions of how many neighbourhood supermarkets sell shoes, and whether any footwear bought there would really make you feel better, check out the advice. If you had pleaded guilty to this and the other rather obvious 'splurge or not' scenarios, you have an unmet emotional need that you are filling with purchases. I don't know about you, but the pair of shoes I bought yesterday (OK, it's a fair cop) were not an attempt to fill an emotional void, but the solution to the 'what shall I wear to Clare's wedding?' question.

Sorry, Lynette. I'm sure you're a very successful life coach and all, but I'd rather read the wise words of the experts on these very pages if I really want to sort out my credit cards.

And my advice to you, dear reader, if you like the thoughtful approach to making life better, is to read Lesley Garner's superb Everything I've Ever Done That Worked (Hay House, pounds 10), which has chapters about all areas of life that might be worrying you, including 'Make Friends with Money'. Her soundbite? 'It's always better to make it than take it.'

She has another section called 'Running Away Money', which isn't about the wallet-draining that seems to happen when I'm not looking. It's about keeping a little aside for whatever life throws at you " and that's the best advice of all.