From: Nathaniel Borenstein <nsb@nsb.fv.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 96 05:13:29 PST
To: jhupp@novellnet.gensys.com>
Subject: Re: new web security product
In-Reply-To: <199601161948.OAA02322@jekyll.piermont.com>
Message-ID: <sl0sorKMc50e81VTgl@nsb.fv.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Ed Carp writes:
> : > I wouldn't pass this along normally, but it seems to allow folks to use
> : > their credit cards at home securely.  Bye-bye, First Virtual... ;)

Perry Metzger writes:
> : I don't think its going to fly. No one wants to pay for an unneeded
> : $100 piece of hardware to encrypt the same credit card over and over
> : again, when a nearly zero marginal cost piece of software can do the
> : same thing.

Jeff Hupp writes:
> 	I am not even sure it IS an encryption device. ......
> 	It may just be a low cost? mag stripe reader...

Let's assume that it is an encryption device, though I agree that this
is left unclear.  This is by no means the first announcement of such a
device.  I suspect it is targeted at physical merchants, and intended
more to compete with the likes of Verifone terminals than anything else.
 I doubt that anyone's basing their business plan on the idea that
consumers will spend $100 each for a device that helps them to spend
more money, but has no other direct utility.   -- Nathaniel
--------
Nathaniel Borenstein <nsb@fv.com> (FAQ & PGP key: nsb+faq@nsb.fv.com)
Chief Scientist, First Virtual Holdings

VIRTUAL YELLOW RIBBON==> http://www.netresponse.com/zldf