Amex Launches Tokens

The American Express Token Service, which is based on the EMV Payment Tokenization Specification and Technical Framework published earlier this year, offers a token vault to store and map tokens to card account numbers; the ability for card-issuing partners, processors, acquirers and merchants to issue tokens; lifecycle management services to create, suspend, resume or delete tokens; and additional fraud and risk management services, such as authorization and payment data validation capabilities, for card-issuing financial institutions.

The token service is now available in the U.S., with international rollout expected to begin in 2015.

Amex also said it has developed network specifications for using Host Card Emulation (HCE) with American Express cards. The cloud-based card-emulation is designed to work with NFC-enabled mobile phones and tablets that run the KitKat version of Android. The American Express HCE specifications are now available globally.