MBNA, the world's largest independent credit card company, has hired Irish software firm Orbiscom to provide Internet security service for its 40 million card holders.

The product, to be called Shop-safe, will be available to US customers later this autumn. Through the software, online shoppers receive a special purchase number so that their actual credit card number is not transmitted over the Internet. MBNA will be Orbiscom's largest business partner to date.