A “major milestone” is what CBORD’s president and CEO is calling the company being named a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and, according to a Microsoft spokesman “proves that CBORD has reached the highest level of competence and expertise in working with Microsoft products.” 

Ultra Electronics has introduced its updated Magicard Prima 2e printer for high-demand card printing applications that includes a new graphics driver, optional ethernet capability and a range of encoding options that support Philips’ MIFARE, HID’s iCLASS and Legic, among others. 

Off-campus card usage continues to grow in schools utilizing Blackboard systems, benefiting both merchants and universities. The company reported that 18 schools were added last year to its Off-Campus Merchant Program, giving students greater flexibility in where they can use their cards. 

EduCard LLC, a division of software developer Evisions, Irvine, Calif., has tapped Metavante Corp. to provide its prepaid card processing services, allowing universities using the program to disburse money to students via EduCard’s preloaded Intellecard Visa-branded debit cards, thus giving students instant access to their funds. 

Debitek, a card reader/device manufacturer and stored value solution provider, has been acquired from its prior owner Ingenico by Heartland Payment Systems. Debitek is well-known in the “closed system” card market with more than 20-years experience providing mag stripe and smart card payment solutions to college campuses, corporate sites, gaming/entertainment venues, and correctional facilities. 

Helping college students who are on their own for the very first time can be a rewarding experience for employees of a bank’s on-campus branch. Students may never have had a bank account before and it may be their first experience with a payment card as well. True, they could deal with an online bank or work with their bank back home or across town, but many find there is no substitute for sitting across the desk from a real live human being at a brick and mortar bank on campus. 

For the second time in less than a year, access control and card provider IDenticard (and sister company IDenticam) has new ownership. Last year, the Pennsylvania company was acquired by GE and today it was announced that Brady Corp. is the new owner. Brady’s other personal identification companies include TEMPbadge, Stopware and J.A.M. Plastics in the U.S., and BIGBadge in the U.K and France.