American Express launched Blue, a
new credit card with an e-wallet feature, smart cart functions and a Web site
where customers can pay their bills online.
The no annual fee card offers a Web site that lets users
download information from Quicken or Microsoft Money; use online financial
tools to calculate net worth, cash flow and retirement goals; and review a
variety of entertainment content including upcoming concerts.
The card also offers a fraud protection guarantee that protects users from
any unauthorized charges made online with their card.
At launch, the card will offer an introductory interest rate of 0 percent for
the first six months and an ongoing fixed rate as low as 9.99 percent for
revolving balances as long as the customer is in good standing.
“Blue continues the American Express tradition of creating custom-designed
products that appeal to specific segments of the consumer marketplace,” said
Alfred F. Kelly Jr., president of the Consumer Card Services Group at
American Express.
“With 64 million adults surfing online regularly and 10
million, people shopping online, it is clear that consumers are quickly
adopting and adapting to the Internet.”
For those customers who want to make online shopping easier, in November the
company will be offering for free, one-click shopping with the American
Express Online Wallet, into which customers may enter their purchase
information such as name, card account number and shipping address.
Blue from American Express also has a “smart” chip. Using a smart card
reader, which is available for free from American Express through Jan. 31 and
connects to the user’s PC, cardmembers can more securely access their
American Express Online Wallet when making purchases online.
The chip stores
a unique digital certificate that acts much like a key, the company said.