Electronic Protocols Application Software

Electronic Protocols Application Software (EPAS)

Definition

The integration of cashless payment solutions in POS, kiosk and automated transaction solutions for international application often proves difficult due to the varying protocols in use and the lack of official interface standards. Up to now, standardized interface concepts for international scenarios have only been implemented on the basis of specifications made by a handful of private enterprises and organizations.

Electronic Protocols Application Software (EPAS) is a project that was launched within the framework of SEPA activities (Single Euro Payment Area), whose objective is to standardize the protocols used for cashless payment solutions throughout Europe.

EPAS has been approved as an EU-funded project.

Scope of standardization

The EPAS project is divided into three subprojects:

• Protocol between acquirer and payment solution
• Protocol between payment solution and POS
• Terminal management protocol

The interdisciplinary expertise required for the individual subprojects is supplied by the specialists involved in the project. The following will be accomplished in the course of the EPAS project:

• Specifications
• Development, testing and certification tools
• Pilot project

The EPAS project optimally enhances the existing approaches to standardization, POS to EPS interface from IFSF (INTERNATIONAL FORECOURT STANDARDS FORUM) and O.P.I. from Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH.

Participants

22 candidates were chosen to participate in the project on condition that:

• the required technical expertise covers as broad a base as possible
• the required know-how on payment solutions comes from as many countries in the European Union as possible.

The participating companies stand for experience not only in the areas of banking, retail and service stations but also the integration experience of leading payment solution and POS solution providers.

Participants come from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Luxemburg, Sweden, U.K. and the Netherlands.

Area of validity

The EPAS standards will be valid in the 25 countries of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Timeline

The EPAS project was officially launched on January 1, 2006 and will run for a duration of 32 months, which will end with protocol piloting.

Links to the participating companies

• Atos Worldline: http://www.atosorigin.com/en-us
• Banksys: http://www.banksys.com/bkscomwt/EN/index.jsp
• BP: http://www.bp.com/home.do?categoryId=1
• Cetrel: http://www.cetrel.lu/
• Europay Austria Zahlungsverkehrssysteme GmbH: http://www.europay.at/
• Fachhochschule Köln: http://www.inf.fh-koeln.de/~ktds/profil/
• Galitt Group: http://www.galittgroup.com/
• GROUPEMENT DES CARTES BANCAIRES: http://www.cartes-bancaires.com/
• ingenico: http://www.ingenico.com/
• Integri: http://www.integri.com/
• Interpay: http://www.interpay.nl/
• Lyra Network: http://www.lyra-network.com/en/en_index.htm
• Moneyline: http://www.moneyline.fr/fr/
• PAN Nordic Card Association: http://www.pan-nordic.org/
• RSC Commercial Services: http://www.retail-sc.com/
• Sermepa: http://www.sermepa.es/espanol/index.htm
• SIBS: http://www.sibs.pt/
• SRC: http://www.src-gmbh.de/
• THALES e-Transactions: http://www.thales-e-transactions.com/
• Total: http://www.total.com/
• Wincor Nixdorf: http://www.wincor-nixdorf.com/internet/index.html