News of new jobs at MasterCard comes in a week of good news elsewhere in the payment services sector

DOUBLE BOOST FOR PAYMENT SERVICES SECTOR - MasterCard has announced that it is creating 130 jobs over the next four years at a new global headquarters for its technology operations in Dublin, bringing the total number of staff here to about 200.

 

Work already carried out here includes research and development for new products, Java programming and new systems for customers and cardholders.

 

This news comes in a week of good news elsewhere in the payment services sector, as Irish firm Realex has just signed a six-year deal with HSBC Merchant Services that will see it provide HSBC with software and managed services to be used by its online retail clients.

 

Garry Lyons, chief innovation officer of MasterCard Worldwide, said his company was expanding in three areas in Ireland: increasing research and development; setting up a Java centre of excellence; and extending a platform it bought when it acquired Orbiscom in 2008.

 

He said MasterCard was working in particular on technology to make mobile phone payments easier. He said plastic would "dematerialise into the phone" and the mobile phone would eventually replace the wallet.

 

Colm Lyon, founder and chief executive of Realex, said his company had taken on 50 people over the last six months to cope with the boom in online retailing. He said Realex's customer support and development teams had grown.

 

Asked about recent Government initiatives on jobs, Mr Lyon said there were still challenges facing indigenous companies - referring in particular to the length of time it took the company to sort out its office accommodation.

 

He said that although he welcomed plans to help Irish companies going abroad to boost exports, he did not see why this should be confined to the BRIC countries.

 

Original Article - http://www.rte.ie