Estonia models e-voting on e-banking

Estonia is the first country to implement a universal voting system via the Internet and turn any computer with a smart card reader into a virtual voting station, states ThePaypers.

The system is modelled on the country's online banking system and marks a leap from carrying out online banking transactions to exercising democratic rights online.

A recent study shows that the high level of trust in online voting is due to the fact that Estonians trust their online banking system and tend to transfer their trust into the voting realm.

Citadel Commerce has contracted with St Minver to provide Instant Internet Banking, which enables consumers to instantly and securely pay for purchased items using their Internet bank account, reports Newswire.

The service includes a payment interface that can be integrated directly into merchant sites, along with an automated backend that supports and reconciles networks of international bank accounts, handles foreign currencies, and supports international treasury management functions.

Instant Internet Banking will allow the consumer to download Citadel's Payment Assistant and use it to securely and automatically ensure payments are immediately credited.

ClairMail, a software provider for mobile phones, has introduced the QuickStart suite of mobile banking and payments services, says ThePaypers.

ClairMail QuickStart allows banks to gain access to mobile banking and payments functionality across the three mobile user interfaces of messaging, mobile Web and client applications.

Services include a set of mobile banking commands, such as account management, fund transfers and ATM/branch locator.