The invention provides systems and methods within existing business and
technology infrastructures and processes for facilitating an electronic
transaction including payment by an account issuer to a merchant for
online purchases by a consumer. The invention uses a web services model
including request and response messages to provide simplified
authentication and authorization through entry of the consumer's PIN,
without the release of the consumer's account or billing information to
the merchant. The invention reduces authorization processing, and reduces
the transaction fees for online transactions, increasing the viability of
lower value transactions.