ICC VIABLE Test Kit
An EMV Level 3 test kit developed for Worldpay, formerly Vantiv. A closed-loop arrangement keeps the card simulator and the host simulator in step, so certification can be prepared without connecting to an external test host.
An EMV test kit built on a leading closed-loop environment. It lets merchants and ISVs test every configuration of contact and contactless EMV chip terminals easily and efficiently. It is built on the ICC Solutions platform.
What it does
What the closed-loop VIABLE kit makes possible.
A leading closed-loop environment for testing merchant and ISV configurations of contact and contactless EMV chip terminals, easily and efficiently.
- Covers every merchant and ISV terminal configuration
- Verifies contact and contactless chip terminals
- Built on the ICC Solutions platform
Host simulator software that simulates acquirer authorisation requests and responses is included, so there is no need to connect online to the Vantiv test host.
- Simulates acquirer authorisation requests and responses
- No online connection to the Vantiv test host required
- A self-contained closed-loop test environment
Automatic import and export analysis tools make testing efficient. Transaction logs are captured easily, without complex hardware.
- Automatic import and export analysis tools
- Transaction logs captured easily, without complex hardware
- Probe ready, supporting PaytestProbe
Supports the Brother DS 620 mobile receipt scanner, so receipts submitted with the test results are easy to scan.
- Supports the Brother DS 620 mobile receipt scanner
- Scans the receipts submitted with the test results
Supported schemes
Schemes supported as standard
| American Express | Included as standard |
|---|---|
| Discover | Included as standard |
| Mastercard | Included as standard |
| Visa | Included as standard |
Add-ons (available separately)
| INTERAC | Optional add-on |
|---|---|
| JCB | Optional add-on |
| Fuel | Optional add-on |
Specifications and schemes
Schemes supported as standard (coverage depends on the configuration and licences)
A closed-loop Vantiv environment for the US market. The built-in host simulator removes the need for an online connection to a test host. It is probe ready, supporting PaytestProbe. Amex, Discover, Mastercard and Visa are standard; INTERAC, JCB and fuel are add-ons. We confirm what is included and currently supported each time.
The closed-loop arrangement
What defines VIABLE is that the card simulator and the host simulator run in step. Because the host simulator reproduces the acquirer's authorisation requests and responses, there is no need to connect online to the Worldpay test host.
| Stage | Element |
|---|---|
| 1 | VIABLE card simulator |
| 2 | Merchant POS or payment application |
| 3 | VIABLE host simulator |
| 4 | Generates approvals, declines and issuer data |
| 5 | Reconciles the results from the card side and the host side |
The card simulator cannot be bought on its own: the closed-loop arrangement that keeps card and host in step is what VIABLE is. The name derives from “Vantiv In A Box EMV”. ICC Solutions developed it jointly with Worldpay and also carries out scheme certification services on Worldpay's behalf.
Important points about maintenance
First-year support includes telephone support, live chat, the VIABLE helpdesk, online web training, remote assistance through TeamViewer, enhanced email support, test plan updates and test kit software updates.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maintenance after the first year | Optional. If it is not continued, however, you no longer receive test plan or software updates |
| A lapse of more than 12 months | The published terms state that resuming may require purchasing a new kit or components |
| In practice, for certification work | Running certification against an outdated test plan risks failure, so in practice maintenance needs to be kept current |
Choosing between the ICC Solutions products
The general-purpose ICCSimTMat, the Fiserv-only kit and the Worldpay-only VIABLE are clearly separated.
| Comparison | TMat | TMat for Fiserv | ICCSimDev | Merchant Cards | VIABLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General purpose or dedicated | General purpose | Fiserv only | General-purpose development | General-purpose basic cards | Worldpay only |
| Primary audience | Vendors, laboratories and acquirers | Fiserv merchants and ISVs | EMV developers | Stores, maintenance and training | Worldpay merchants and ISVs |
| Level 2 | Suite available | Mainly Level 3 | Custom-developed testing | Not possible | Mainly Level 3 |
| Level 3 | Supported | Supported | Not for formal certification | Not possible | Supported |
| Host integration | External or simulated | Fiserv Portal integration | Outside its purpose | Requires a test host | Built-in closed loop |
| Negative testing | Scheme test case coverage | Fiserv test case coverage | Highly flexible | Limited | Worldpay test case coverage |
| Automated analysis | Yes | Yes | Focused on script development | No | Yes |
| Certification submission | Through suites | For Fiserv | Generally not possible | Not possible | For Worldpay |
| PaytestProbe | Supported | Supported | Focused on generated cards | Not supported | Supported |
Where the product sits in the process
On the issuance side, the Barnes and ICC Solutions products are not competitors; they sit at different stages of the process.
| Process stage | Product | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| Card issuance side | Barnes CPT | Inspects card data, certificates, EMV tags and magnetic stripe data |
| Card and terminal development | ICCSimDev | Develops error cards, custom cards and negative tests |
| Terminal kernel | ICCSimTMat Level 2 | Verifies the EMV kernel and reader application |
| Finished POS and ATM | ICCSimTMat Level 3 | Scheme integration testing |
| Specific acquirer | TMat for Fiserv / VIABLE | The Fiserv and Worldpay certification process |
| After store deployment | Merchant Test Cards | Quick checks, regression testing and staff training |
What we confirm before proposing
Before finalising a configuration we ask about the following.
| Category | Points to confirm |
|---|---|
| Test scope | How far coverage must extend across contact, contactless and magnetic stripe, and whether Level 2, Level 3 or both are needed |
| Scope | Which of POS, ATM, Tap to Phone, transit or fuel applies, and the exact scheme and test suite versions |
| Connects to | Which acquirer you connect to — Fiserv, Worldpay or another |
| Method | Whether physical ICCSim cards or PaytestProbe is used, whether physical cards for fallback testing are included, and whether a host simulator is required |
| Licences and maintenance | Maintenance charges after the first year and what happens if renewal stops, the expiry of the test cards, and how licences are divided between the scheme-qualified suites and development scripts |
| Automation | The API specification for Auto API and robot integration, and compatibility between cards generated in ICCSimDev and TMat |
| Domestic requirements | Is a dedicated L3 test plan available for the local acquirer or payment network? |
Supporting an international brand’s L3 suite and having the local acquirer or payment network accept that result as certification are two separate matters. We confirm the brand, acquirer, payment gateway and terminal configuration before fixing the product configuration.
Choosing the right ICC product
The ICC products divide by purpose. Where each sits is set out in the Level 3 layer.
| Product | If you are considering |
|---|---|
| ICCSimTMat | You need to pass formal scheme approval at Level 2 and Level 3, and want acceptance testing managed and run with qualified suites |
| ICCSimTMat for Fiserv | Merchant and ISV certification through Fiserv, with test logs uploaded directly via the portal |
| ICCSimDev | You want to build your own card responses and error conditions, for negative testing and debugging |
| ★ VIABLE (this page) | You want to run merchant and ISV acceptance testing together in a closed-loop store setup |
| Merchant Test Cards | You want physical cards for checking terminal configuration, regression and staff training |
| Testing and certification services | You would rather not run the testing yourself and want certification handled for you |
Where it is used
- Setting up Level 3 verification for a new development
- Regression after a configuration change or update
- Coverage checks ahead of certification
Relationship to certification
Testing uses the test suites qualified by the scheme. The approval itself is issued by the scheme or the acquirer.