Comic Relief gets e-donation system from ICL

ICL has been chosen by UK charity, Comic Relief to design and implement an electronic payment system that allows people to make donations over the Internet in six different currencies.

It is the first time a charity has been able to accept multiple currency donations online. International viewers can donate Canadian, Australian and US dollars, Irish punts, sterling and euros. A Comic Relief spokesman said the aim was to "increase the comfort zone and make it easier for people to donate".

Martin Goodier, technical director at ICL, said he wanted to assure users the payment would be secure. "After the person has chosen which currency they wish to pay in they will go into a secure dialog that is encrypted between the client's PC and the Comic Relief server using a standard protocol. The information is then collected and passed onto a private network where it is processed," he said.

Goodier added that the contract is an expansion of a long-standing partnership, and as such, ICL is not charging Comic Relief for the service. "ICL has been part of an alliance with the beeb [the BBC] for a while now, developing and installing a production suite. So for this Comic Relief system we are sharing resources with the beeb in terms of the network and the extensions that are needed for this system - we are effectively providing it free of charge."

The site at http://www.rednoseday.beeb.com is already taking some donations but will be put to the test on 12 March - Red Nose Day.