Level Four Software Ltd

Level Four Software Ltd
Level Four Software Ltd is a technology company providing open standards-based ATM software to banks, payment processors and other financial institutions. The company was established in 1995 with head offices in Dunfermline, Scotland, UK.
The company’s first product, ATM Developer, was launched in 1995, to design, configure and test new ATM content. This was followed by the launch of ATM TrueTest (now renamed BRIDGE:test), an application to automate regression testing of Windows-based ATM networks, in 2004. The company launched the BRIDGE product suite in 2007, providing ATM monitoring and ATM testing tools that run using the industry-wide CEN/XFS open standard.
Its technology runs in open standards Windows-based ATM architectures as well as those based on the proprietary NDC/912 protocols and the OS/2 operating system. As such, it is considered to be vendor-independent as it is not fixed to a specific protocol, standard or ATM manufacturer. It also complies with industry standards such as EMV and Triple DES
Level Four’s has 41 customers worldwide, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB, Bank of America, CIBC, VocaLink and Standard Bank of South Africa.
International expansion
In 2004, Level Four Software Ltd established Level Four Americas LLC, with offices in Charlotte NC. Level Four Americas LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Level Four Software Ltd. The same year, the company opened offices in Dubai, UAE, providing sales coverage to banks and processors in the Middle East and North Africa.
Key people
Ian Kerr, CEO, Level Four Software Ltd
Martin Macmillan, Business Development Director, Level Four Software Ltd
Steve Lund, President, Level Four Americas LLC
Issa Keshek, General Manager, Middle East
Employees: 38
Website: http://www.levelfour.com
Products
ATM Developer is an application for the development and testing of ATM content, including screen design and transaction functionality workflow tools. The application includes configuration file management for NDC/912-based ATM networks to accommodate changes in ATM screen presentation and transaction flows. In 2001, Level Four introduced support for the EMV smart card standard. ATM Developer also provides end to end transaction testing functionality from the smart card through the ATM and to the host system, to reduce the need for real ATM hardware in the test environment.
BRIDGE:test is part of Level Four Software Ltd’s BRIDGE product suite. The application provides an automated testing process for ATM networks that run in the Microsoft Windows-based ATM environment using the CEN/XFS industry open standard. It includes a regression testing engine, automated documentation, support for EMV/3DES and ATM device support. It also includes a simulated set of XFS-compliant service providers than interface with a graphical user interface and regression testing tools within the application. These allow the user to control the ATM application through the open XFS layer using a graphical user interface. BRIDGE:test is typically a server-based installation, allowing several stakeholders within an institution to access the virtual ATM on their desktop PC through a desktop shortcut.
BRIDGE:control is an independent ATM monitoring solution designed to run in open standards-based ATM networks. The application is used in networks in excess of 20,000 terminals and has been used on over 140 different models of ATMs conforming to the CEN/XFS standard. BRIDGE:control introduces a monitoring and control agent on every machine in the network and its Java-based architecture allows additional features to be added as plug-ins. BRIDGE:control collects information on the status of each machine in a central relational database server and commands may be sent to this agent from a browser based control workstation. Access to this information and the monitoring and control facilities can be provided to all parts of the ATM network deployer's organisation, including external maintenance contractors, through a web portal. The link between server and agent is SSL encrypted. An SNMP interface is also provided to allow BRIDGE:control to communicate with existing network management facilities and other products such as cash management applications. The product was developed by Salzburger Banken Software and is marketed under the BRIDGE:control name by Level Four Software Ltd in certain territories.
Competitors
*http://www.paragonedge.com
*http://www.lexcel.com
*http://www.ncr.com
*http://www.wincor-nixdorf.com
*http://www.diebold.com
Partners
*http://www.galitt.com
*http://www.sbs.co.at
*http://www.ascert.com
*http://www.tieto.com
Industry standards that impact on ATM testing
Open standards
On July 12, 2005, IBM formally withdrew support for the OS/2 operating system for ATM’s . From the late 1990’s banks began to migrate their ATM networks to an emerging Windows-based open standards platform, initially called WOSA/XFS, latterly CEN/XFS. By 2007, 64 percent of banks in Western Europe had adopted the CEN/XFS open standard . Migration from proprietary application software to a multi-vendor software strategy using the CEN/XFS platform has created a more complex environment. The Windows-based environment requires frequent updates and supports third party software applications, which need to be regularly installed and updated but typically have different release cycles. Consequently, banks have increased the number of test cases to cover these additional requirements around testing of the more complex application software environment.
EMV
EMV and the Chip and PIN card were introduced to the UK in 1999. By August 2008, 92 per cent of the country’s total cards EMV-enabled . Canada and many countries in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America have also begun EMV roll-out. This change in card technology has altered the ATM testing landscape since ATMs now require the ability to process Chip and PIN cards instead of magnetic strip technology alone. This new functionality increases the number of tests that need to be conducted across the ATM network.

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