Internet shopping is good news for banks and other card acquirers, as both buyers and merchants rely on payment cards more than any other form of payment for completing online transactions.

However, the cost of installing, supporting, and operating an Internet payment gateway for many acquirers has historically been difficult to justify.

In late 1999, MasterCard implemented a best-in-class e-Commerce payment gateway facility now known as MiGS, which processes transactions for member institutions around the globe.

Originally designed for e-Commerce and other retailer or Card Not Present processing transactions, MiGS has evolved into a fully functional payment gateway that supports Call Center Operations, Mail Orders/Telephone Orders, remote payments, and cardholder-present transactions.

First introduced into the Australasian market, MiGS has since extended its reach into markets around the world. MiGS has been able to prove its merit as a successful product in the e-commerce and more traditional processing arenas. Regions now utilising MiGS include Asia/Pacific, Middle East/Africa, Latin America, United States and Europe.