Cardholder Present is the teasing brand name adopted for a credit card authentication system introduced by mobile computing and integration specialist Talecom.

The name picks up on the "cardholder not present" term used to describe telephone or online card purchases, which provide no full verification of the buyer's identity. Talecom's new service reintroduces that capability by providing card verification at the point of delivery.

The system works by reading the recipient's credit card details at the doorstep and passing the details back to the card company in real time for verification, using an encrypted signal over a GPRS network.

Talecom points out that the scheme makes it safer for courier firms to deliver to recipients at locations other than their stated addresses. Its existing navigation capability means that delivery drivers can now be guided to any destination, and can then make the delivery with the security of knowing the product is going to the intended recipient.