TOKYO -- ATM manufacturer Fujitsu Limited and middleware developer KAL are jointly developing ATM banking software based on the new IFX protocol. The solution consists of an OEM application developed by KAL for the ATM side and an ATM switch server solution developed by Fujitsu.
According to a news release, IFX (the Interactive Financial eXchange Forum) is the emerging open standard protocol for communication between ATMs and ATM switches, based on advanced XML technology. The goal is to replace the multiple proprietary protocols with a single Web-based open standard in order to greatly simplify development and support of financial transactions.
A consortium of companies representing a cross-section of the banking and information systems industries is developing the IFX standard. Fujitsu is the first Japanese ATM manufacturer to join the forum.
(See related story Forum hopes to help ATMs speak same language)
Fujitsu and KAL joined forces in Japan earlier this year, and their development team includes specialists in the ATM, XML and EAI fields. The companies' joint solution is being developed based on the IFX 1.0 SOAP Implementation Document, released Sept. 23.
According to the release, the implementation of Fujitsu and KAL's IFX-SOAP/XML solution is expected to lead to a new generation of flexible application architectures that simplify the addition of new financial and non-financial services to the ATM environment.
The new solution uses Fujitsu's advanced XML technology, including its EAI software, Interstage CollaborationRing (UNIX/Win), as an IFX-SOAP/XML ATM Switch Server to connect to the ATM via IFX-SOAP/XML for messaging and data format exchange.
Fujitsu's 8000 Series ATM is used for the ATM hardware platform, and is based on KAL's flagship Kalignite middleware product and new OEM application for IFX.
The companies will demonstrate the IFX-SOAP/XML solution at next week's BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo 2002 Nov. 4-7 in Atlanta.
