<fletch@ain.bls.com> wrote:

I think the Visa stuff is basically stored value and rechargeable smart cards, not really ecash type money. Supposedly you'll be able to get a card with $10 or $20 on it and all the vending machines and phones around the Olympic venues will be set up to take the cards. So to answer your questions, no it's not really digital cash (like ecash); and yes I think it's probably traceable to some extent (unless you buy stored value cards w/paper cash).

First Union, the bank selling the cards, has a page on them:

http://www.firstunion.com/visacash/

Low on the technical info, but they give an address to mail questions to.

A couple of weeks ago I was giving a talk at a conferance on computer technology in financial applications in Stockholm. I mentioned VISA:s electronic purse 'Smart Cash' in my talk and during the break afterwards a representative from a danish bank told me that VISA:s 'Smart Cash' was actually bought from the danish purse/project 'Danmont'. Does anyone know the truth of this, please let me know. Regards, /Lars Johansson ljo@ausys.se