PABP validation signals merchants that their POS systems are current with PCI compliance. We believe merchants want to buy secure systems, and we're taking steps to make our developer partners more competitive. When a PABP validated system is combined with a PCI-compliant payment processor such as Mercury, merchants get a secure swipe-to-settlement solution.

It's definitely a tricky fraud. [The credit card] could look real, but it could be someone else's account.

PABP validation isn't yet a requirement by Visa, but we expect it will be sometime in 2006. Mercury is taking the lead with our developer partners to help them stay ahead of the curve as security standards continue to evolve. This 50 percent discount will help our developers overcome the cost barrier and do what's in everyone's best business interests.