RFID Doors at Fairmont Pittsburgh

The Fairmont Pittsburgh, slated to open in March 2010, will implement VingCard Elsafe's RFID technology to enable contactless electronic door locks with NFC cell phone compatibility. ...

... "Fairmont Pittsburgh selected Signature RFID by Vingcard contactless electronic door locks, which offer highly reliable security features and provide unprecedented convenience and easeof- operation for hoteliers and hotel guests alike. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) locks allow for contactless guest room entry and are compatible with next-generation NFC cell phones. Fairmont Pittsburgh will be fully equipped to provide user-friendly and intuitive guest interaction, including NFC cell phone compatibility, while decreasing the overall workload of the hotel’s management and staff. Signature RFID also provides unmatched control and security – with a 600 event audit trail and innovative anti-cloning software – creating a sense of ease for hoteliers according to Venas. " ...

Via Vingcard: Fairmont uses VISIONLINE and Signature RFID to Secure New Property

Mobile-Enabling Objects with RFID

Alcatel-Lucent creates new capabilities for its touchatag (tikitag), such as two-dimensional barcode support, application programming inteface extensions, and new business applications for mobile enablement of objects. ...

... "touchatag is an online Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) service. This service makes it possible for the creation of applications that enable the launch of online applications with a simple touch of an RFID enabled device, such as a mobile phone. Items tagged with an RFID chip provide users with one touch, fast and easy access to on-line information, registration, ticketing and payment.

The new 2D barcode tag creation capability enables an RFID tag to be read by a mobile phone camera with a 2D barcode reader. With this capability, the touchatag online service then selects the right application to initiate, given the tag reader ID and the context. For example, a user can be seamlessly linked to a person's social network by reading a 2D barcode tag on a photo on a business card. Additionally, consumers can use a Firefox plug-in to quickly link a RFID tag to a website directly from their browser. " ...

Via Alcatel-Lucent: touchatag contactless applications

Event Experience video

RFID Tech Enables Lafinca Reebok Sports Club Customer Experience

The Reebok Sports Club La Finca leverages an efficient access control system, installed by LEGIC Identsystems' impolementation partner, Gantner Technologies. LEGIC's RFID contactless technology is installed at the Calle Serrano Reebok Club in Madrid. The LEGIC partnership is realizing benefits, through efficiency that resulted EUR70,000 in annual savings. Members benefit from simple access control, increased security, and the ability to obtain various services. The Club has implemented the contactless credentials for 6000 members using these form factors: fabric and plastic bracelet, a watch, and a card. Access turnstiles at the club support two readers (one for entry and one for exit). The company is able to better understand the customer experience at the club. ...

... "But the services provided by the LEGIC all-in-one-card go well beyond mere access control. Members can use their contactless smartcard to reserve the locker they want, and they can purchase minutes in the sun cabin by using their LEGIC smart card. Lastly, the Club is about to install a new LEGIC based application on the all-in-one-card so that members do not need to worry about having small change and notes on them if they want to purchase food and drink in the Club's cafeteria, because they will be able to pay for it using their card or bracelet with integrated LEGIC chip. " ...

Via LEGIC Identsystems AG: Reebok Sports Club La Finca opts for LEGIC technology at its sports facilities

Russia RFID Transportation Application: Moscow Metro

UPM Raflatac will supply RFID inlays for contactless passenger tickets on the Moscow Metro. The RFID inlays will be supplied in cooperation with Moscow-based Comvision Russland for ticket converting at JSC Mikron. ...

... "The Moscow Metro is one of the world's most heavily used metro systems, carrying 8.2 million passengers on a normal weekday. The RFID inlays provided by UPM Raflatac will replace the cards with magnetic stripe Moscow Metro is currently using for tickets with a fixed number of journeys. For seasonal tickets, the Moscow Metro is already using contactless RFID smart cards which enable significantly faster entry for passengers. The Moscow Metro was the first metro system in Europe to implement smart cards together with a new type of magnetic card in 1998. In the first stage, the monthly usage of UPM Raflatac HF inlays based on the Mifare Ultralight standard will be 5 million pieces. After a transitional period at the end of summer 2007, usage will rise to approximately 30 million inlays per month. " ...

Via UPM Raflatac: UPM Raflatac supplies RFID inlays for Moscow Metro contactless tickets ...

RFID Wristband Point-of-Sale Ski Application

Precision Dynamics implements Smart Band RFID Wristband System at Sno Mountain, formerly Montage Mountain, in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. Denis Carlson, President of Sno Mountain, sees the RFID technology as a competitive differentiator for its customer experience, and has potential to increase revenue through cashless point-of-sale transactions. ...

... "The RFID wristband system provides added conveniences to guests including automated ski lift tickets and cashless point-of-sale (POS). Purchasing food and beverages at the ski park is a breeze using Smart Band's contactless payment feature. Guests can load money onto their wristband at POS stations using cash, credit or debit cards. Smart Bands work well in any environment-wet or dry-making them a great addition to any ski resort. " ...

Via Precision Dynamics Corporation: Sno Mountain Implements Precision Dynamics' Smart Band RFID Wristbands for Automated Ski Lift Passes and Cashless Point-of-Sale ...

OTI RFID Supports Discover Network Contactless Payment

OTI receives certification for its RFID reader in support of the contactless payment solution for the Discover Network. ...

... "Discover Network, a business unit of Discover Financial Services and Morgan Stanley, announced that it has certified the Saturn 5000 contactless reader developed by On Track Innovations (OTI) (NASDAQ: OTIV), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions, for use with Discover Network's contactless payment application. The certification process ensures that the Saturn 5000's reader technology is able to support Discover Network's proprietary contactless payment solution. Additional OTI readers are in the certification process.

Compatible with major POS terminal providers and acquirers, Saturn 5000's enhanced features allow the reader to support multiple application programs and read a variety of payments sources, including credit cards and key fobs and cell phones. The console's plug-and-play design and small footprint facilitates quick upgrades of existing POS terminals to accept contactless payments. And because the reader faces the customer, the Saturn 5000 enables easier and faster payment transactions. Additionally, OTI's patented matched antenna technology provides more effective power consumption, reliable and stable communications, and additional levels of security and encryption throughout the communication link. " ...

Via Discover Network: Discover Network Certifies Oti Card Reader For Contactless Payment System, OTI's Saturn 5000 to Support Discover Network's Fast, Secure, and Simple Contactless Payment System Worldwide

RFID ePassport: Security Lacking Per Alliance ...

Smart Card Alliance comes out against the RFID-enabled ePassport, citing security concerns. ...

... "Using the long read range radio frequency identification (RFID) technology the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and State Department are proposing for passport cards will do little to increase the security of the nation's borders, and opens up possibilities that U.S. citizens could be tracked, the Smart Card Alliance said today. The Alliance contends that a more privacy sensitive and secure passport card solution using the same contactless smart card technology found in the new electronic passports (ePassports) can improve border security without causing delays at crossings ... " ...

Via Smart Card Alliance: Proposed Passport Card with RFID Technology Bad News for Privacy and Security, Says Smart Card Alliance ...

RFID SmartCards AccessControl ...

ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies supplies the Cartes conference with RFID-enabled smart card for access control. ...

... "ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies (ITG) will provide 30,000 contactless smart cards to be used by exhibitors, visitors, VIP guests and the organizers themselves. The cards are manufactured by VisionCard, a leading European card manufacturer based in Austria and part of ITG. Among the special features of the card is the printed antenna, which represents a complementary technology to ITG's other core transponder technologies, wire-embedding, wire-transfer and coil winding. VisionCard's long track record and their expertise in high volume printing allow the company to produce high quality printed antennas very cost efficiently and to connect them to any 13.56 MHz IC module available in the market. The cards for the CARTES exhibition are based on Philips mifare 1k chips. Set up of the access control system at the exhibition has been entrusted to French system integrator Tech-Event. For this application, Tech-Event has chosen RFID reader modules manufactured by ACG Identification Technologies, another ASSA ABLOY ITG company. The reader modules provided by ACG, compatible with multiple ISO standards including ISO 14443A/B and ISO 15693, will be used to read all the entry badges issued for the exhibition. " ...

Via ASSA ABLOY Identification Technologies: CARTES exhibition goes contactless with RFID technology from ASSA ABLOY ITG ...

RFID Security: NSF Funds Smart Tag Research ...

National Science Foundation, NSF, provides funding to increase the privacy and security of RFID smart tags, through better cryptographics.

... "Strengthened security for smart tags - the wireless devices that allow drivers to zip through automatic tollbooths or pass a security desk with the flash of a card - is the aim of a new initiative that has received $1.1 million from the National Science Foundation. Led by Kevin Fu of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the researchers are developing much-needed cryptographic protocols, hardware and applications for the increasingly common devices. Millions of consumers already use smart tags—wireless devices that use radio waves to identify and authenticate people and things - and they will become more numerous, says Fu.



Smart tags - which include Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags—are already used to track items from library books to merchandise to cattle. Increasingly, they are replacing the magnetic stripe cards used in security badges and mass transit cards, sometimes also serving as electronic cash. The tags will soon be incorporated into documents such as passports; their use is being explored for tracking medical records and prison inmates. But the tags, which also include contactless smart cards and low-resource sensors, are a technology that has crept in from the edge of the Internet and they present new challenges in terms of security and privacy issues, says Fu.

The unique environment presented by smart tags - they can operate without human intervention and without a physically connected power source - presents unique security concerns, says Fu. Smart tags automatically respond to the device that reads them, so human users don't have the traditional means of giving or denying consent to the reader. This infrastructure of untrusted readers and tags requires an approach that preserves privacy while maintaining the flexibility and convenience that the tags offer.

The new consortium, dubbed the RFID ConsortiUm for Security and Privacy (RFID-CUSP), takes these operating conditions into account and is designing new cryptographic definitions, algorithms and models that will lay the solid foundation on which secure applications can be built. As part of their project, the researchers are working with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The project will result in the first completely open, publicly available software for experimenting with RFID security and privacy. " ...

UMass Amherst: UMass Amherst-Led Research Will Protect Consumers by Ramping Up Security for Smart Tags

Kevin Fu: "Open cryptanalysis of existing RFID protocols will give assurance in the soundness of reliable RFID technology. At UMass, we are investigating how to build secure RFID-based systems. "

The Sensor Revolution: Industry & Commerce: "Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stands among the fastest-proliferating sensor technologies. RFID systems combine electromagnetic sensing with radio communications. RFID tags and interrogators can be used to track inventory in a warehouse or collect tolls from moving cars. "

Understanding Contactless Smart Card Technologies and Some of the Leading Reader/Card Product Providers (PDF): "That transmission could then be replayed to a reader to gain access illicitly at some time in the future. In contrast, today’s secure contactless cards and readers (such as XceedID ISO-X and HID iCLASS) employ a myriad of cryptographic techniques. These techniques encrypt data in ways that render it useless to an illicit user. Thus, traditional proximity cards and readers provide inferior communication security when compared to secure contactless smart cards and readers. "

RFID-Enabled Smart Card ...

QI Sys is developing RFID smart cards for contactless payment applications ...

... "QI Systems Inc., a leading developer and integrator of smart card payment, access control and tracking solutions, announced that QI product engineers are now developing hardware and software components that support RFID-enabled contactless payment systems. RFID-enabled payment systems are rapidly gaining in popularity with merchants and consumers in the U.S. Small-value transactions can now be quickly completed using a payment card with a built-in microchip and wire-loop antenna utilizing very-short-range (several inches) radio waves to securely transmit account information from the card to the merchant point-of-sale terminal. There is no need for the merchant to swipe the card through a reader, so the cardholder always remains in control of the card and transaction time is optimized. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are actively promoting contactless-payment versions of their cards. The International Standards Organization has established an implementation specification enabling these credit-card leaders to share a common transmission protocol. That in turn facilitates the programming of a single merchant point-of-sale terminal to accept and process transactions from all three companies’ payment cards/devices. Merchants and cardholders alike should benefit significantly from the enhanced convenience and security offered by a broader selection of contactless payment solutions. " ...

RFID-Enabled Smart Card: Via QI Systems Inc.: QI Systems Inc. Developing Products for RFID-Enabled Smart Card ...

RFID e-Passport Security Breach ...

... "A Dutch television program Nieuwslicht recently worked with local security firm Riscure to successfully crack and decrypt a Dutch-prototype RFID passport. " ...

Via Engadget: Dutch RFID e-passport cracked -- US next? ...

Via Riscure: Privacy issues with new digital passport: "The new digital passport lacks in the protection of personal details of the passport holder. An attacker intercepting the contactless communication between the passport and the border control system can get access to the personal information held on the chip inside the new passport. ... Riscure is a Security Lab based in the Netherlands. Riscure evaluates the security of smart cards, mobile phones and related systems for banks, credit card companies, GSM operators, smart card manufacturers, organisations deploying digital IDs and companies in the pay television industry. "

RFID Technology ISO9001:2000 Certification ...

HID achieves ISO9001 certification for the design, manufacture, and distribution of RFID technology. ...

RFID Technology ISO9001:2000 Certification: Via HID: HID Achieves ISO9001:2000 Re-Certification for Design, Manufacture, and Distribution of RFID-Based Contactless Smart Cards and Readers: The Management System Certification Encompasses Excellence Meeting Customer and Regulatory Requirements While Continually Improving HID's Product Performance ...

... "HID Corporation, the premier manufacturer of contactless access control cards and readers for the security industry, announced that is has achieved ISO 9001:2000 re-certification for quality management and its system certification that encompasses manufacturing. HID first received ISO9000 certification on June 1, 1999, ISO 9001:2000 certification on June 1, 2002 and has been continuously certified while they maintain focus on continuous process improvements for the company's entire iCLASS 13.56 MHz, Prox 125 kHz, and Wiegand card and reader technology design, manufacture and distribution processes. To attain ISO9001 certification, all certified companies must be in conformance to the ISO9001:2000 standard that requires companies to do what is needed to fulfill the customer's quality requirements, enhance customer satisfaction, manage the processes or activities and to achieve continual improvement of their performance in pursuit of these objectives. " ...

As the largest manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry, HID has shipped over 250 million credentials to customers worldwide. HID pioneered the development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for physical access control. Proximity and iCLASS® technologies can be housed on the same credential and combined with other technologies such as magnetic stripe, barcode, or contact smart chip modules. This provides users the ability to leverage their investment in existing systems while seamlessly upgrading to new technologies and adding new applications. For increased security, users can add a photo ID or anti-counterfeiting element such as a hologram or ultraviolet ink. HID’s experience in developing card technologies enables them to play a critical role in the evolution and adoption of contactless smart card technology used for applications such as access control, IT secure authentication, digital cash, the storage of biometric templates, and the storage and retrieval of critical information.

RFID Smart Cards: Norwegian Rail: National eTickets ...

Arcontia supplies RFID smart card solutions to Norwegian Rail in support of national eTicket program. ...

RFID Smart Cards: Norwegian Rail: National eTickets: Via Arcontia: Arcontia rolls out the new e-ticketing reader chosen by Norwegian State Railways (NSB): 1000 contactless smart card readers for the new onboard electronic ticketing system will be the new equipment for train conductors in Norway ...

... "Arcontia AB, a contactless smart card reader supplier in RFID markets, announces that its contactless smart card readers were rolled out to the Norwegian State Railways (NSB) for use within the nationwide electronic e-ticketing project. In total, 1000 pocket PC’s with the attached compact flash readers are to be used by train conductors across the country. The Norwegian company Unified Consulting and Arcontia have been cooperating since February 2005 regarding the implementation of the electronic ticketing issue in the Mobile Terminal system (the MT project) for the Norwegian State Railways. " ...

Arcontia has been active in the RFID technology since 1996 and is today a developer of a comprehensive range of contactless smart card readers and terminals, complying with ISO14443 A/B and MIFARE standards. The product range addresses e-ticketing and e-government markets as well as the supply chain management and logistics market. Local office is based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Reference on RFID Smart Cards for eTicketing:

Via CIOInsight: Ahead of the Game: Designed by Hewlett-Packard Co., Cisco Systems Inc., and Fortress GB Ltd., the system includes RFID-enabled smart cards that must be scanned at one of the stadium's 84 turnstiles for entry. The smart cards were used by 85,000 fans last season - they are included with season tickets ...

RFID Contactless Payment Cards ...

Axalto RFID contactless payment cards are being supplied to KeyBank for contactless debit role ...

RFID Contactless Payment Cards: Via Axalto: Axalto Provides Contactless Payment Cards for KeyBank Debit Card Rollout in the United States ...

... "Axalto, the world's leading provider of microprocessor cards, is supplying more than two million MasterCard® PayPass™ cards to KeyBank for the first contactless debit card rollout in the U.S. Axalto contactless payment smart cards enable cardholders to simply tap their card on the reader or within one inch of a point-of-sale terminal at checkout, instead of swiping their card or handing it to a store employee. The terminal quickly emits a signal acknowledging payment confirmation. The payment transaction is then processed. The KeyBank MasterCard PayPass card – available beginning September 1 – also includes a magnetic stripe, allowing consumers to use it at any location that accepts MasterCard debit cards. " ...

RFID Automated Document Authentication

RFID Automated Document Authentication: Via Viisage: Viisage Launches RFID Smartchip in Leading Document Authentication Solution; Automated Authentication of ePassports and Smart Cards Provides Border Crossing Agencies with Capabilities to Validate Travelers' Identities ...

RFID capability integrated across automated document authentication product line ...

... "Viisage (NASDAQ: VISG), a leading provider of advanced technology identity solutions, announced the release of contactless smartchip capabilities for its iA-thenticate(R) product line, incorporating RFID (radio frequency identification) capability to authenticate travel credentials across Viisage's widely deployed product set. The integration of RFID into Viisage's iA-thenticate smartchip is expected to streamline border crossing processes, simplify the authentication of identity documents, including both old and new passports, and improve identification and security at border crossings. The Viisage iA-thenticate system is currently deployed at many border crossings, airports and embassies around the world, including such countries as Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Canada and Australia, and at multiple airports in the United Kingdom and the US for the validation of credentials of airport contractors. The combination of the already proven document authentication capabilities with new RFID data capture capabilities is designed to provide border control agents with a higher level of assurance that submitted documents are valid. " ...

MasterCard SmartCard RFID Payment

MasterCard SmartCard RFID Payment: Hypercom Terminals Star in MasterCard Promotion at Major League Baseball All-Star Game FanFest: 80,000 Fans Tap for Prizes with Optimum T4100s and Smart Cards in Baseball Giveaway Event ...

... "MasterCard’s use of a contactless prize card drew attention to the MasterCard® PayPass™ program, an initiative that eliminates the need for consumers to swipe their credit cards through a reader. Cardholders simply tap their MasterCard PayPass card on a specially equipped merchant terminal that reads consumer account information from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag embedded in the card. " ...

Widely recognized as the global payment technology innovator, Hypercom delivers complete card payment terminal, network access device, server and transaction networking solutions that help merchants and financial institutions generate revenues and increase profits. Hypercom’s card payment terminal, network and server solutions are leading the transformation of electronic payments in more than 100 countries. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

RFID Pharmacy Account Management

RFID Pharmacy Account Management: CVS/pharmacy Purchases 12,000 Hypercom RFID-Enabled Payment Terminals: Hypercom Becomes Pharmacy's Preferred POS Vendor with Optimum L4100 Device ...

... "Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) announced that CVS/pharmacy, the 5,400-store retail pharmacy chain, has named Hypercom its preferred supplier of card payment terminals based on the advanced functionality of the Optimum L4100, a compact, high-speed signature capture card device specifically designed to speed checkout lines in multi-lane retail environments. The Hypercom terminals, configured to CVS/pharmacy specifications, accept magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, and contactless cards or key fobs that eliminate swiping and signature requirements through the use of embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that transmit consumer account information over radio frequency waves. " ...

Widely recognized as the global payment technology innovator, Hypercom delivers complete card payment terminal, network access device, server and transaction networking solutions that help merchants and financial institutions generate revenues and increase profits. Hypercom's card payment terminal, network and server solutions are leading the transformation of electronic payments in more than 100 countries. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.

RFID Smart Cards Partnership ...

RFID Smart Cards: Ingenico and OTI Form Partnership in Secure Contactless Payment and Identification: Initial Deployments Will Support US Payment Market ...

OTI partners to advance RFID smart card technology for the US payment market ...

... "On Track Innovations Ltd, (OTI) (NASDAQ: OTIV; Prime Standard [Frankfurt]: OT5), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions for homeland security and payments, announced a partnership with Ingenico North America. Ingenico and OTI will provide secure contactless solutions for the payment and identification markets. " ...

Established in 1990, OTI (NASDAQ: OTIV, Prime Standard: OT5) designs, develops and markets secure contactless microprocessor-based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for petroleum payment systems, homeland security solutions, electronic passports and IDs, micro payments, mass transit ticketing, parking, loyalty programs and secure campuses. OTI has a global network of regional offices to market and support its products. The company was awarded the prestigious ESCAT Award for smart card innovation in both 1998 and 2000.

With a 26.5% market share, Ingenico is the world's largest provider of payment and transactions systems used by banking, retail, petroleum, transportation and government agencies to accelerate and secure the flow of electronic commerce. The Company's 1,300 employees working in 29 subsidiaries, as well as a network of a hundred partners and distributors, ship over 1.5 million payment terminals annually to more than 90 countries. Ingenico, through an annual investment of over 8 percent of revenues in research and development, is producing increasingly efficient and secure payment systems that incorporate the UNICAPT 32 architecture and the latest EMV standards. These systems leverage the most advanced technology available, including biometrics, touch technology, RFID, GSM/GPRS, WiFi and Bluetooth communications, providing our customers with an efficient and versatile array of transaction solutions. Ingenico leverages this expertise and technology to provide solutions in markets requiring, highly secure applications such as purchasing cards, e-procedures, prepaid card reloading and electronic transaction flow management. This investment had enabled Ingenico to enter the emerging markets of electronic ID scanning, microchip-based healthcare cards and supply-chain traceability.

RFID Embedded Systems ...

Embedded Systems RFID: Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an automated data-capture technology that can be used to electronically identify, track, and store information contained on a tag that is attached to or embedded in an object, such as a product, case, or pallet ...

... "An embedded system is a special-purpose computer system that is used within a device. An embedded system has specific requirements and performs predefined tasks, unlike a general-purpose personal computer. To date, embedded RFID chips have been tested in smart test tubes that store data about the tube's contents, which has facilitated obtaining correct information for identifying specimens and time-stamping doctor's orders. Embedded chips in credit cards and mobile phones for contactless payments are also expected to become increasingly popular in Asia. Embedded RFID chips are being proposed for use in numerous applications, including electronic passports, tires to determine wear, drug containers for tracking and theft control, and aircraft for maintenance. " ...

RFID 1356Mhz Smart Card Reader

RFID 1356Mhz Smart Card Reader: Atmel Introduces AVR Microcontroller-based 13.56 MHz Contactless Smart Card Reader ...

... "Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML), a global leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, announced today the world's smallest and lowest-cost 13.56 MHz RFID single chip reader. Radio frequency identification (RFID) readers allow devices to wirelessly interrogate and write to tags and Smart Cards. This technology is now being used in applications such as consumer, healthcare, transportation and logistics products. Smaller than a US dime, the AT90RF135602 is ideal for portable devices. Combined with its low power consumption and intelligent power management, the AT90RF135602 is especially suited for small, battery-powered handheld devices. It integrates, in a single BGA package, an RF block developed by a leading RFID design company and an Atmel AVR high performance RISC microcontroller. " ...

Atmel is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of microcontrollers, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and radio frequency (RF) components. Leveraging one of the industry's broadest intellectual property (IP) technology portfolios, Atmel is able to provide the electronics industry with complete system solutions. Focused on consumer, industrial, security, communications, computing and automotive markets, Atmel ICs can be found Everywhere You Are®.

RFID Career Path Promotion: Executive Vice President Of Marketing

RFID Career Path Promotion: HID Promotes Holly Sacks To Executive Vice President Of Marketing

... "HID Corporation, the premier manufacturer of contactless access control cards and readers for the security industry, today announced that Holly Sacks has been promoted to executive vice president of Marketing. " ...

HID is the premier global supplier of contactless access control cards and readers for the security industry. With over 200 million credentials (cards, fobs and keys) in use worldwide, HID leads the industry in 13.56 MHz and 125 kHz RFID card and reader technology for a wide range of applications including access control, IT secure authentication, time and attendance, digital cash/cashless vending, automotive vehicle identification, and biometric verification. HID's award-winning product line includes iCLASS® 13.56 MHz contactless smart cards and readers, 125 kHz proximity, magnetic stripe, and Wiegand technology cards and readers. The company also provides specialized card manufacturing services including custom pre-printed graphics, micro printing and anti-counterfeiting elements, holograms or ultraviolet ink for increased card security. HID’s corporate offices are located in Irvine, California, with international offices supporting more than 100 countries. The company is part of the ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group.

Contactless RFID Payment Cards

Contactless RFID Payment Cards: VeriFone’s MX870 Brings Multi-Media to Multi-Lane Payments ...

The MX870 enables RFID smart payments ...

... "The MX870 projects a high-quality image on a ¼-VGA screen that is enhanced with available custom-branded face plates and features the smallest footprint available to conserve counter space. The MX870 enables consumers to pay their way with time-tested magnetic-stripe and touch technology as well as contactless RFID and EMV smart card payment cards, all meeting the industry’s latest security standards. With the highest read rate in the industry, wear-resistant touchscreen and modular design to accommodate future enhancements, the MX870 features the best total cost of ownership in the industry. " ...

VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (“VeriFone”) (NYSE: PAY), a global leader in secure electronic payment technologies, provides expertise, solutions and services for today with a migration strategy for tomorrow. VeriFone delivers solutions that add value to the point of sale, resulting in improved merchant retention and the generation of new sources of revenue for its partners and customers. VeriFone solutions are specifically designed to meet the needs of vertical markets including financial, retail, petroleum, government and healthcare. VeriFone has shipped over eleven million electronic payment systems since inception in 1981.

RFID Blink Smart Cards: Speed and Convenience

RFID Blink Smart Cards: Speed and Convenience: Chase To Roll Out Next Generation Payment Product This Summer

Chase will release RFID smart cards with blink capabilities ...

... "Chase Bank U.S.A., N.A., a division of JPMorgan Chase & Co. [NYSE: JPM], announced today that it will become the first bank to increase the speed and convenience of a credit card by broadly rolling out consumer cards with contactless functionality, called blink. Chase will begin a market-by-market rollout of the Chase credit cards with blink this summer, after working closely with merchants in each market to ensure the broadest possible acceptance at launch. Working in conjunction with Visa U.S.A. and MasterCard International Incorporated, Chase has identified merchants where speed and convenience are important to consumers, and has been actively building a roster of merchants in each market. Initially, Chase cardmembers will be able to blink at well-known movie theaters, convenience and specialty retailers such as 7-Eleven, quick service restaurants and drug stores. Chase will announce additional lists of specific merchants when they issue cards with blink in each market. " ...

The most significant timesavings can be realized in the drive-thru environment, where transaction time was reduced by as much as 20 seconds as compared to cash. Consumers also liked the convenience of not carrying cash for everyday purchases, meaning they no longer needed to fumble around for change and small bills, or be confined by the cash in their purses or wallets. In fact, 60 percent of respondents to a recent MasterCard survey said they use cash less often today than they did five years ago. For merchants, blink transactions speed checkout times and allow consumers to spend less time waiting in lines. Research has shown that customers who use blink cards often spend more per transaction and are happier with their store experience. Chase cards with blink also provide a reliable, trusted payment method that works well in environments where speed is important. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm.

RFID Key-Fobs Available ...

CARDXX ANNOUNCES SAMPLING PROGRAM FOR CONTACTLESS RFID KEY FOBS FOR POINT OF SALE TRANSACTION MARKET ...

... CardXX, Inc. (CXCQ.PK) a leading smartcard manufacturer, announced that the Company has begun its sampling program of contactless RFID Key Fobs for the retail point of sale (POS) transaction market. Cardxx is working with a number of platform solutions providers to produce unique, branded and distinctive Key Fobs in various form factors to be used in branded loyalty and prepaid programs. The Key Fobs are uniquely designed to provide branded “key chain shelf space” along with contactless functionality. ...

CardXX provides secure encapsulation of advanced electronics through manufacturing and licensing secure and intelligent Smart Cards using its proprietary, patented encapsulation process known as the Reaction Assisted Molded Process (RAMP).

RFID Smart Cards Identification Technology ...

The Committee on Energy and Commerce

... "Contactless identification technology is also used for personal identification, including in so-called smart cards. Smart cards typically come in a credit card form factor and carry sensitive, personally identifiable data. American consumers are likely to encounter smart cards and similar RF-enabled personal identification devices in their daily lives through applications such as secure access cards for building entry, speedy gasoline purchasing such as the Exxon Speedpass, vehicle anti-theft systems, and in transportation systems all over the world, including in the Minneapolis, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego (in Subcommittee member Congressman Issa's district), Houston, and other systems. Smart cards are essentially RFID systems with advanced computing power, storage, and strong encryption accelerators, offering advanced services with enhanced security and privacy protection. In fact, smart cards are so powerful that the Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies are adopting the technology to secure access to their facilities and computer networks, even storing a picture and fingerprint of the cardholder on the card for enhanced security control. The DoD makes worst case scenario assumptions about the cards falling into the wrong hands and having large resources at their disposal to crack the card -- standards that advanced smart cards have met through the use of encryption, secure design, and other measures. " ...

RFID Library Labels Printed Silver Ink With Flip Chip ...

RFID Library Labels Printed Silver Ink With Flip Chip: ASK to Deliver 4 Million RFID Smart Labels for US and European ...

Unique RFID solutions for libraries support printed silver ink antennae and flip-chip labeling and are targeted for European and US library markets ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Bibliotheca and ASK Enter Strategic Partnership to Offer a Complete Library RFID System. ASK, a worldwide ...

... ASK, a worldwide leading manufacturer of RFID products, has been selected by Bibliotheca, Europe #1 RFID library system provider to supply C.label, a unique RFID smart paper label, to American and European public libraries. ASK labels are based on its core technology of a printed 13.56 Mhz silver ink antenna on paper and direct flip chip embedding process. A scalable and high volume capacity manufacturing chain combined with low cost materials offer librarians cost effective and reliable labels for books, CDs, DVDs and video tapes. ASK has already supplied specific labels and readers to more than 20 French, Italian and German libraries over the last 4 years and has therefore gained a valuable experience within this market segment. ...

Founded in 1997, ASK is today the leading supplier of a comprehensive range of contactless cards, tickets, RFID tags and readers, complying with ISO and EPC standards. They address the mass transit, access control and e-government ID markets as well as the supply chain and logistics market. 50 million RFID cards, tickets and labels are already in use worldwide. Manufacturing is located in Sophia-Antipolis, France. Local offices are based in Paris, Singapore, Taiwan and Westport, USA.

Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Bibliotheca is a leading provider of RFID technology products to libraries. Its installed systems manage the circulation and inventory of a combined total of nearly 40 million items. The company's American headquarters are located in Yardley, Pennsylvania. Bibliotheca designs, manufacturers and services RFID library systems through an international network of employees and distributors.

Smart Card Standards and Research ...

NIST Smart Card Standards and Research

... "GSC-IS(v2.1) replaces v2.0. Some highlights of GSC-Isv2.1 include a card interface for contactless smart cards, support for repeating tags, and general improvements to the contact card interface chapters. GSC-IS(v2.1) will be submitted for formal standardization to INCITS B10, the U.S. TAG to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC17." ...

RFID Tags Smart Cards ...

RFID Tags Smart Cards: Smart Card Alliance Publishes Paper Contrasting RFID Tags and ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... The answer to both questions is "yes," and to help people understand why, the Smart Card Alliance published "RFID Tags and Contactless Smart Card Technology ...

... Radio frequency is no longer just about large battery-powered radio-based gadgets like garage door openers and highway payment systems. Now ePassports and credit cards are going to come with RF capabilities. But is that a good idea? Is it safe? The answer to both questions is "yes," and to help people understand why, the Smart Card Alliance published "RFID Tags and Contactless Smart Card Technology: Comparing and Contrasting Applications and Technologies." ...

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to accelerate the acceptance of smart card technology. Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S.

Secure RFID Chips for Payment Card Applications ...

Secure RFID Chips for Payment Card Applications: Texas Instruments to Deliver RFID Solution for MasterCard PayPass

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Texas Instruments today announced plans to deliver ISO/IEC 14443 compliant radio frequency identification (RFID) chips designed to meet the ...

... Texas Instruments today announced plans to deliver ISO/IEC 14443 compliant radio frequency identification (RFID) chips designed to meet the stringent security requirements for MasterCard International's PayPass(TM) line of RFID payment cards and tokens. TI expects to submit this product for MasterCard certification in the second quarter of 2005. Full production is planned to start in the second half of this year TI's new 13.56 MHz RFID chip is the latest to be introduced in a series of solutions based on the company's ISO/IEC 14443 technology platform. This proven platform features products with universally accepted and standardized cryptography, using National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) approved crypto algorithms, including Triple DES and SHA-1. ...

Texas Instruments is the world's largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications. Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN.

Additional resources on secure RFID chips for payment card applications ...

RFID Tags and Contactless Smart Card Technology: Comparing and: The on-chip intelligence uniquely enables systems that ... card technology for new secure identification and ... For additional information on how RFID and contactless ...

Infineon Technologies AG: Business Concept ... Secure Mobile Solutions offers an extensive line of ... health insurance cards) and payment cards (debit and ... and customer base with RFID chips for identification ...

DOI Buys 30,000 DESFire Chips: says the government has tested a number of other chips that meet the ... NASA, which began a DESFire-based smart card secure access program at an ...

Micropayment Contactless Reader Solutions Have Global Reach ...

Micropayment Contactless Reader Solutions: OTI Subsidiary ASEC SA Receives Follow-On Order for Additional ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... (OTI) (Nasdaq: OTIV; Prime Standard (Frankfurt): OT5), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions for homeland security ...

... On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI) (Nasdaq: OTIV; Prime Standard (Frankfurt): OT5), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions for homeland security, micropayments, petroleum payments and other applications, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, ASEC S.A., received a follow-on order for 1500 additional Verifone's Omni 3750 terminals with contactless reader solutions for micropayments to be located in one of the largest kiosk chains across Poland. The order follows an earlier announced initial order for 1000 terminals, and creates one of the largest infrastructure for contactless payments in the market, which can support additional applications to meet the needs of stores, hypermarkets, and other commercial enterprises. ...

Established in 1990, OTI (Nasdaq: OTIV, Prime Standard: OT5) designs, develops and markets secure contactless microprocessor-based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for petroleum payment systems, homeland security solutions, electronic passports and IDs, micropayments, mass transit ticketing, parking, loyalty programs and secure campuses. OTI has a global network of regional offices to market and support its products. The company was awarded the prestigious ESCAT Award for smart card innovation in both 1998 and 2000. Major clients include: MasterCard International, Atmel, BP, Scheidt & Bachmann, EDS, Repsol, and the Government of Israel.

Additional resources on contactless reader solutions for micropayment management ...

Emerging Payments: NFC technology, which complements our contactless-payment strategy ... and vending machine card readers that access ... from proprietary niche solutions to applications ...

Quarterly Report: File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat ... the transition from contact to contactless seamless ... that combine smart cards, readers,
related applications ... g Micropayment Solutions: Teaming up with financial ...

Smart Cards: can also operate through a reader terminal installed ... specifies similar characteristics for contactless cards ... By limiting to specific solutions, these standards ...

ONE MICROPAYMENT AT A TIME: with contactless readers and thePoS terminal software to the ... ... with easy-to-use, secure software solutions for ... ... The M4e reader uses software-defined radio ...

RFID Paper: ASK Launches Smart Paper ID for E-Government Applications at ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... About ASK: Founded in 1997, ASK is today the leading supplier of a comprehensive range of contactless cards, tickets, RFID tags and readers, complying with ISO ...

... ASK Electronic Paper based on a silver-printed antenna on a paper substrate is again the core process of its innovative Smart Paper Solution for passports, national ID cards, healthcare cards, civil servant cards, eGovernment services, visas and driver licenses. Bringing flexibility, reliability and durability, SPID is also environmentally friendly and answers requirements and specifications of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the United Nations standardization agency. ...

Founded in 1997, ASK is today the leading supplier of a comprehensive range of contactless cards, tickets, RFID tags and readers, complying with ISO and EPC standards. They address the mass transit, access control and e-government ID markets as well as the supply chain and logistics market. 50 million RFID cards, tickets and labels are already in use worldwide. Manufacturing is located in Sophia-Antipolis, France. Local offices are based in Paris, Singapore, Taiwan and Westport, USA.

RFID Smart Cards: CARTES 2004, Leading Exhibition For Smart Card Markets ...

The CARTES 2004 show presents a complete and international view of the entire industry: card manufacturers and issuers, RFID and biometrics technology, manufacturing machines, components manufacturers, supply manufacturers, card personalising, engineering, terminals and readers. The CARTES show has been compbined with the IT Security 2004 show.

... The development of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology for contactless products and solutions, combined with biometrics capabilities, represent recent advanced techniques. A special session focusing on RFID and biometrics technologies will be held at Cartes & IT Security 2004, from 2 to 4 November, at Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, France. ...

Advanced Smart Card References

Trends in the RFID Smart Card market: Significant developments and trends include dominance for the JavaCard platform for high-end SIMs. There is evolution from low- to high-end cards, despite the slow start of third generation USIM (Universal Subscriber Identification Module) cards shipments. A significant breakthrough in CDMA markets has occured with the development of R-UIM (Roaming Universal Identity Module) cards. The vision continues for the use of SIM technology as the key to digital networks which are trusted by users and operators to provide security while protecting customers' privacy.

Career in Smart Card Technology: Smart Card Leader Hires New CEO for US Division; Giesecke & ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... The Dulles complex incorporates smart card production capabilities with an R&D center, sales, marketing, order management, customer support and a new ...

... Giesecke & Devrient, a global provider of banknotes, secure documents, processing equipment and smart cards, has hired Gary Glickman as CEO of Giesecke & Devrient Cardtech, Inc., the Cards and Solutions subsidiary in the U.S. On October 1, Mr. Glickman assumed responsibility for the U.S. Cards and Solutions business unit, which includes contact and contactless smart cards, traditional magnetic stripe cards and card solutions for the government, enterprise, transit, health, payment and telecommunications market areas. Mr. Glickman is based out of G&D's North American Headquarters, located in the technology corridor of Northern Virginia. ...

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a technology leader in the supply of smart cards, systems and solutions for telecommunications, electronic payments, transportation, health, ID, and Internet security (PKI). G&D is also a leading provider of banknotes and securities as well as currency processing equipment. The Giesecke & Devrient Group, headquartered in Munich, Germany, operates subsidiaries and joint ventures all over the world. G&D employs over 6,500 people world-wide and generates annual revenues of EUR 1.05 billion.

Smart Card: Malaysia issues dual interface MyKad ID card nationwide

From Contactless News (press release), VA ... By the end of 2005, all Malaysian citizens over the age of 12 will be carrying a dual interface contact/contactless smart card as their national ID. ...

... By the end of 2005, all Malaysian citizens over the age of 12 will be carrying a dual interface contact/contactless smart card as their national ID. With a population of 23 million, the Malaysian program is both one of the world’s first national ID card programs and one of the largest issuances of dual interface technology. The multi-purpose MyKad cards incorporate both government and private sector applications onto a single card. The US$71 million project is called “MyKad.” ...

With the passing of the Digital Signature Act, Malaysia has put in place a well-mandated legal environment for the use of digital signatures. MSC Trustgate.com has been licensed under the Digital Signature Act as Certification Authority (CA) to provide digital certification services including Digital Certificates, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and cryptographic products. As a member of Verisign Trust Network, MSC Trustgate.com leverages on Verisign’s proven technology, technical expertise and brand recognition to help companies build and secure an online web presence by encrypting communications and transactions; authenticating the identities of individuals; offering secure online payment functions; and validating transactions. MSC Trustgate is the fastest growing Internet trust service company in the region.

Contactless Smart Card: Panasonic Develops Industry's First SD Memory Card With ...

From PressReleaseNetwork.com (press release) ... (TSE: 6752), best known for its Panasonic brand products, has developed the industry's first SD Memory Card with contactless smart card capabilities. ...

... Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6752), best known for its Panasonic brand products, has developed the industry's first SD Memory Card with contactless smart card capabilities. Called smartSD Card, the new SD Memory Card combines the convenience of contactless data communication capabilities with large storage capacity and high security. The company will position the smartSD Card as key to realizing the "ubiquitous network society" and will strive to create new business opportunities not only in the device sector but also in the system and solution service sectors. Sample shipments of the smartSD Cards will commence in December 2004. Commercial shipments are expected to follow in the fall of 2005. ...

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6752; NYSE: MC), best known for its Panasonic brand name, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated sales of US$71.92 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. Matsushita's shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, New York (NYSE:MC), Euronext, Amsterdam and Frankfurt stock exchanges.

RFID Market: NBS Technologies Inc. Agrees to Acquire Cybernetix ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... and personalization of, smart cards (contact, contactless and dual interface), smart objects, electronic labels and micromodules, as well as RFID products for ...

... NBS Technologies Inc. ("NBS")(TSX:NBS) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets and assume certain liabilities of Cybernetix Microelectronique S.A.S. ("Microelectronique") for total cash consideration of approximately Cdn$12 million. Microelectronique is a subsidiary of Cybernetix SA, a pubic company listed on the Paris Euronext Stock Exchange (Sicovam code 3616). Microelectronique based in Marseille, France, designs and manufactures automated equipment systems for the production, testing and personalization of, smart cards (contact, contactless and dual interface), smart objects, electronic labels and micromodules, as well as RFID products for applications in telecommunications, ID, security, banking and transportation. ...

NBS Technologies is a leading provider of card personalization, secure identity solutions, and point of sale transaction services for financial institutions, governments, and corporations worldwide. The company has specialized and complementary product lines within its Commerce Gateway, Card Personalization and Payment Solutions business units. NBS Technologies is a global company with locations in Canada, U.S. and UK, along with a worldwide dealer network. For more information, visit www.nbstech.com.

Cybernetix Microelectronique S.A.S. is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Cybernetix S.A which is a innovation engineering company in the fields of robotics and automation, including Offshore, Metrology-Optics-Vision, Telerobotics, and Nuclear markets. The Cybernetix Microelectronique S.A.S. is one of the world's leading companies in the design and manufacture of standard or specific automated systems, designed to produce, test and personalize smart cards, smart labels and semiconductors, with primary offices in Marseille, France.

Smart Card RFID: ASK Contactless Cards & Tickets Selected for the Netherlands Whole ...

From PR Newswire (press release) ... Founded in 1997, ASK is today the world leading manufacturer of dual interface contact/contactless smart cards, contactless paper tickets and RFID smart paper ...

" ... ASK was selected by Thales, System Integrator for the global system, to supply the contactless cards and tickets for the Dutch public transports. The Netherlands will be one of the first countries in the world to have a full contactless AFC system on their whole public transportation network. The Deutsh e-ticketing project under the supervision of Trans Link System (TLS) project involves a consortium of the 5 largest transit operators in the Netherlands and should be starting in Rotterdam in fall 2004 to spread to the other cities by 2006. Over 2 million passengers daily should be thus traveling by train, metro, bus, boat or tramway ... "

ASK is today the world leading manufacturer of dual interface contact/contactless smart cards, contactless paper tickets and RFID smart paper labels. ASK developed the largest range of contactless products available on the market. It is based on a patented silver silk printed antenna on a paper inlay for mass transit AFC systems, access control, identification and logistics applications. ASK also offers a range of fixed and hand-held readers in its portfolio, OEM couplers, printers and a POS terminal. These products comply with ISO7816, ISO14443 A&B, ISO15693 and UHF standards. The company has already supplied over 25 million contactless cards and contactless paper tickets for use in more 100 towns and cities in Europe, Asia and the USA. Clients include the French railway company SNCF and Paris transport system operator RATP and transport operators such as Toronto, San Francisco, Lisbon, Lyon, Venice, Naples, Rome, Taipei, Nice and Germany's Rhine-Ruhr region. The manufacturing plant is located in Sophia-Antipolis, France and regional offices in Sophia-Antipolis, Paris, Singapore, Taiwan and USA.

Retail RFID Advancements: Possibilities of The Point of Sale Industry Global Markets and ...

From PR Web (press release), WA ... research investigated a variety of technologies driving the evolution of the black box at the checkout such as IP enablement, Contactless Cards, and RFID Tags. ...

" ... The world is rapidly shifting from cash and checks to electronic payments. POS terminals, as the interface between the consumer and the banking networks, are at the core of the movement. Prior Mercator Advisory Group research investigated a variety of technologies driving the evolution of the black box at the checkout such as IP enablement, Contactless Cards, and RFID Tags. This report delves into the Global marketplace for POS Terminals and analyzes the regions and vendors that are implementing changes that are radically altering the shape of retail payments ... "

Mercator Advisory Group is the leading, independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments industry. They deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Their clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors and associations to leading technology providers. Mercator Advisory Group's Emerging Technologies Advisory Service focuses on newly emerging consumer payment technologies that stand to impact significantly the future of the industry. At present, a large emphasis of this service is on Chip/Smart Card technologies, mobile payment initiatives, chip card applications and programs, RFID devices, emerging authentication mechanisms (biometrics, etc.), purse/wallet initiatives, transportation/identity linked programs and the drivers for success in these increasingly important sectors. This service also looks closely at POS device advancements, technical product innovation, standards development, e-commerce initiatives and the drivers for success moving forward.

RFID Printer: Zebra Introduces New P520i Card Printer

From PR Newswire (press release) ... The P520i is an intelligent printer that harnesses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to automate key processes and make it easier to use ...

Zebra Technologies Corporation delivers innovative and reliable on-demand printing solutions to businesses and governments in more than 90 countries around the world. A broad range of applications benefit from Zebra brand thermal barcode label and receipt printers and plastic card printers (formerly
branded Eltron(R)), resulting in enhanced security, increased productivity, improved quality, lower costs and better customer service. Zebra Card Printers (formerly Eltron) manufactures desktop printers for the production of id cards, student cards, loyalty cards, access control cards, security id cards, visitor badges, driver licences and many other applications world-wide. The Zebra P310 (formerly the Eltron P310) is selected more than any other plastic card printer in the world. Contactless smart cards utilize various RFID technologies to write and read. Many card printers print on these kinds of smart cards. Encoding or programming the electronic devices on these cards is typically accomplished by an external encoding or programming device, but contactless smart card encoders integrated into the card printer are increasingly available.

Smart Card Mobile: JCB to Launch Wireless 'Mobile Offica' Corporate Solution

From Japan Corporate News (press release), Japan ... will itself be releasing i-mode FeliCa Service for mobile wallet applications, including train pass and e-money, on four i-mode smart-card handset models, in ...

JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer/acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 11.42 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 49.6 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart", a commitment to responsive, high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB International homepage at http://www.jcbinternational.com. JCB designed its own credit application for smart cards, which called J/Smart. J/Smart is compliant with EMV de-facto standards for smart card credit and debit transactions, and works on any common operating systems. The J/Smart application is standardized to properly meet the precise needs of our partners. DualPlus is JCB's dual interface smart card. This is a multifunction card with a single chip and two interfaces, contact and contactless, as well as a linkage function. The DualPlus card not only costs less to issue than JCB's hybrid smart card, which incorporates two separate chips, but the linkage allows information sharing between contact and contactless functions.

RFID Smart Cards: Smart Card Alliance Adds 21 Members; Security Fastest Growing ...

From PR Newswire (press release)  ... services. -- ASK, http://www.ask.fr, manufactures contactless microprocessor smart cards, paper tickets and RFID smart paper labels. ...

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for profit, multi-industry association working to accelerate the widespread acceptance of multiple application smart card technology. Our membership includes leading companies in the banking, financial services, computer, telecommunications, technology, healthcare, retail, and entertainment industries, as well as a number of government agencies. The convergence of these major industry players is unprecedented and represents a shared vision and commitment to providing an interoperable platform for the delivery of a new generation of products and services based on smart card technology. The Alliance was created when the industry’s key organizations, the Smart Card Industry Association and the Smart Card Forum, joined forces in early 2001. The newly combined membership brings together leading users and technologists from both the public and private sectors. Membership is open to anyone focusing resources and energy on the utilization of smart card technology.

Contactless Smart Cards: SMIC Aims at CE with Contactless Smart Cards

From Reed Electronics Group, CA ... charge for the consumer electronics market, announcing the development and immediate availability of 0.35-micron EEPROM-based contactless smart card technology ...

SMIC is a pure-play IC foundry that offers 0.35μm to 0.13μm IC manufacturing services. Established in 2000, SMIC is headquartered in Shanghai and has three 8-inch fabs including a dedicated copper backend line there. SMIC acquired its fourth 8-inch fab facility, Fab 7, located in Tianjin. The foundry is also building a 12-inch wafer facility in Beijing. In May 2003, our Fab 1 was one of the two recipients of the "Top Fab of the Year for 2003" by Semiconductor International, a leading publication in the semiconductor industry. SMIC's technology capabilities include logic, mixed signal/RF, high-voltage circuits, system-on-chip, embedded and other memories LCoS and CIS among others . Key to SMIC's rapid technology development and excellent fab management is a strong R&D team made up of experienced engineers from North America, Europe and Asia, and a network of leading international technology and manufacturing partners.

Secure RFID Chips: EM Microelectronic announces 13.56 MHz transponder IC with crypto ...

From Contactless News (press release), VA ... EM Microelectronic, an electronic systems company of the Swatch Group and the world's largest supplier of RFID ICs, announces a family of RFID integrated ...

EM Microelectronic announces 13.56 MHz transponder IC with crypto for high security and 13.56MHz multi-standard reader IC... The new family of high frequency RFID ICs completes EM's UHF and 125kHz broad portfolio of products in order to serve the widest possible range of RFID applications.

EM Microelectronic is a semi- conductor manufacturer specialized in the design and production of ultra low power, low voltage integrated circuits for battery-operated and field-powered applications in consumer, automotive and industrial areas. EM Microelectronic has over 26 years of experience in the design of ICs processing analog and digital signals simultaneously. The product portfolio encompasses RFID circuits, smart cards, ultra-low power microcontrollers, power management, LCD drivers and displays, sensor and opto-electronic ICs, mixed-mode arrays and standard analog ICs. EM Microelectronic also offers module and bumping services and manufactures not only standard circuits and ASICs, but also system solutions and modules for applications such as access control, radio frequency identification, mobile phones, mass-market consumer appliances, alarm and security systems, utility and heating meters, sensor signal processing, controlling, car immobilization, electronic automotive subsystems and many more.

The EM4035 is a CMOS integrated circuit intended for use in contactless Read/Write transponders. The EM4035 is completely ISO15693 compliant and is a member of ISO 15693 standard passive Read/Write RF tags operating at 13.56MHz. The Chip contains an implementation of a crypto-algorithm with 96 bit of user configurable secret-Keys contained in EEPROM. The 3.2k bit EEPROM memory contained in the chip is organized in 50 words of 64 bits, each word can be irreversibly locked. The memory contains a unique 64-bit serial number (UID). An ISO 15693 anticollision algorithm allows operating more tags in the field simultaneously. The 64bits UID as defined in ISO15693 standard is factory programmed and locked. It includes a 6 bits chip type and a 10 bits customer code made specific on request. The resonant capacitor value is selected by metal mask.

RFID Smart Cards: Oberthur Wins First GSA Contract for Issuance of Secure ID Smart ...

From Business Wire (press release), CA ... With its unique supply chain management expertise, from security printing, to smart card manufacturing and mass issuance, Oberthur is ideally positioned to ...

ID-One™ Advanced ID solutions for governments. Portable, secure and standardized, smart cards have proven to be the best available solutions to provide fast and reliable verification of a citizen's identity, while protecting the privacy of the individual. Accumulating its leadership in smart cards with a unique expertise in security printing and personal identification documents, Oberthur Card Systems is better positioned than any other actor on the market to support governments deploying smart identification systems. AuthentIC™ is a complete range of advanced, flexible and highly secure cryptographic solutions adressing the needs of B2B and B2C markets for secure network access (authentication) and online payment. Designed to support different technologies, these solutions are readily adaptable to different environments, systems and devices. They are particularly suited for the implementation and management of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) architectures.

ID-One™ smart cards are based on Oberthur Card Systems' open platforms, featuring on-board applications dedicated to identity and e-government services. ID-One smart cards are based on the latest evolution of Cosmo cards, Oberthur Card Systems' platform offer. Implementing Java Card™ and GlobalPlatform industry standards, Cosmo cards offer from 32 to 64k of EEPROM, with dual interface chip allowing the card to be used in contactless mode. Cosmo cards are also ready for biometrics applications, supporting the standard API from the Biometric Consortium. The applets available with ID-One Cosmo provide all the necessary cryptographic services to perform PKI (RSA) related operations and secured data storage functions for identity, password, credential or other sensitive data. RSA keys can be loaded or generated on-board for added security. DES or 3DES functions are also provided to perform encryption/decryption and can be used to perform challenge/response operations. When Java is not required, Oberthur Card Systems is able to offer alternatives such as MULTOS™ platforms or specification-based mask development.

RFID Smart Card: VeriFone Announces Contactless Reader Module for Omni 7000MPD ...

From Business Wire (press release) ... The new module, which supports RFID contactless smart card payments, can be added to base model Omni 7000MPD and Omni 7100MPD terminals at purchase or after ...

The new module, which supports RFID contactless smart card payments, can be added to base model Omni 7000MPD and Omni 7100MPD terminals at purchase or after the terminals are put into use, without returning the terminals to the manufacturer. With its new contactless module, VeriFone is targeting the growing market of retailers moving to contactless payment programs that use chips with radio-frequency technology, such as MasterCard® PayPass™ from MasterCard International and ExpressPay from American Express. The module is also compliant with electronic transit fare cards using Mifare and other ISO 14443 compliant protocols preferred by transit system operators around the world. These standards ensure convenience for merchants and mass transit systems accepting various contactless payment cards as well as for cardholders looking to use their contactless cards for daily purchases.

RFID Security: GE Security and XceedID Corporation to Offer Contactless Security ...

From CR80News, VA ... Based in Golden, Colorado, XceedID is a privately held company dedicated to the design, development and supply of advanced contactless RFID products. ...

XceedID is committed to developing new ideas in the area of RFID and contactless smart cards into leading edge products that reduce undue risks of development and assure lower cost and quicker time to market without the delays associated with a corporate bureaucracy. XceedID is currently developing innovative contactless products with plans of first product availability in Q4 2004. XceedID will offer a family of products compliant with a variety of 13.56 Mhz ISO standards including 14443 and 15693.

RFID Payments: FASTER MORE SECURE CONTACTLESS TRANSACTIONS FOR MERCHANTS ...

Contactless News (press release), United States - 7 hours ago
... Hypercom is clearly a global payment technology leader, delivering intelligently integrated RFID solutions to the point-of-transaction. ...

On Track Innovations Ltd, (OTI) (NASDAQ: OTIV; Prime Standard [Frankfurt]: OT5), a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card systems, announced that it has teamed up with global payment technology leader Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) to deliver world-leading "contactless" electronic card payment programs that add convenience, speed check-out and increase security. The companies' combined technologies will help expand merchant and consumer use of contactless payment programs, such as MasterCard PayPass™, at U.S. retail countertops.

OTI's patented "matched-antenna" contactless technology coupled with Hypercom's industry-leading electronic payment terminals enable more reliable and secure communication. The solution also allows issuers to provide consumers with highly secure contactless cards and key fobs with smart stickers and custom designs, such as new specially equipped watches that feature transaction capabilities.

Recognized globally as a payment technology innovator and leader, Hypercom(r) products include smart, fast and easy-use card payment terminals, networking equipment and technology. Hypercom will integrate OTI's contactless technology into their new RF-enabled terminals, and have already incorporated the capability to use OTI's newest contactless reader, the Saturn 5000, which offers a plug-and-play retro-fit option for merchants currently equipped with Hypercom terminals.

Using MasterCard PayPass, consumers simply tap or wave their payment card on a specially equipped merchant terminal that then transmits payment details wirelessly, eliminating the need to swipe the card through a reader. The new solution is ideal for traditional cash-only environments where speed is essential, such as quick service restaurants, gas stations and movie theaters.

Last year, MasterCard successfully completed market trials of MasterCard PayPass, which utilizes OTI's contactless card technology. Hypercom's integration of contactless technology-enabled terminals in the U.S. will be an important step in the successful expansion of the MasterCard PayPasstm program planned for later this year.

"The card payment terminal market is continually evolving to give customers greater purchasing flexibility and boost merchant sales. The options that OTI technology provides are ideal for meeting these evolving market needs. We found OTI's technology and value proposition to be right on the mark," said Eric Duprat, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Product Development. "Hypercom now supports MasterCard PayPass on all T7Plus and ICE terminals with our standard HyperWare payment application, VAR development tools and OTI's Saturn 5000 reader."

"Hypercom is clearly a global payment technology leader, delivering intelligently integrated RFID solutions to the point-of-transaction. We look forward to working with Hypercom to facilitate the use of OTI's secured contactless solutions by consumers and vendors," said Ohad Bashan, President and CEO of OTI America, "As Hypercom deploys terminals to support contactless payment programs; OTI will be ready to meet their production needs."

About Hypercom (www.hypercom.com)

Celebrating 26 years of technology excellence, innovation and leadership, Hypercom Corporation is a leading global provider of electronic payment solutions that add value at the point-of-transaction for consumers, merchants and acquirers, and yield increased profitability for its customers. Widely recognized as the global electronic payment technology innovator, Hypercom delivers comprehensive card payment terminal, network and server solutions that help merchants and financial institutions generate revenues and increase profits.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Hypercom's card payment terminal, network and server solutions are leading the transformation of electronic payments in more than 100 countries.

About OTI (www.otiglobal.com)

Established in 1990, OTI (NASDAQ: OTIV, Prime Standard: OT5) designs, develops and markets secure contactless microprocessor-based smart card technology to address the needs of a wide variety of markets. Applications developed by OTI include product solutions for petroleum payment systems, micropayments, mass transit ticketing, parking, loyalty programs, ID and secure campuses. OTI has a global network of regional offices to market and support its products. The company was awarded the prestigious ESCAT Award for smart card innovation in both 1998 and 2000. Major clients include: MasterCard International, Atmel, BP, Scheidt & Bachmann, EDS, Repsol, and the Government of Israel.

RFID Tools: Faster, More Secure 'Contactless' Transactions for Merchants, ...

From PRNewswire (press release)  ... development tools and OTI's Saturn 5000 reader." "Hypercom is clearly a global payment technology leader, delivering intelligently integrated RFID solutions to ...

HypercomCorporation (NYSE: HYC) to deliver world-leading "contactless" electronic cardpayment programs that add convenience, speed check-out and increase security.The companies' combined technologies will help expand merchant and consumeruse of contactless payment programs, such as MasterCard PayPass(TM), at U.S.retail countertops. OTI's patented "matched-antenna" contactless technology coupled withHypercom's industry-leading electronic payment terminals enable more reliableand secure communication. The solution also allows issuers to provideconsumers with highly secure contactless cards and key fobs with smartstickers and custom designs, such as new specially equipped watches thatfeature transaction capabilities. Recognized globally as a payment technology innovator and leader,Hypercom(R) products include smart, fast and easy-use card payment terminals,networking equipment and technology. Hypercom will integrate OTI's contactlesstechnology into their new RF-enabled terminals, and have already incorporatedthe capability to use OTI's newest contactless reader, the Saturn 5000, whichoffers a plug-and-play retro-fit option for merchants currently equipped withHypercom terminals. Using MasterCard PayPass, consumers simply tap or wave their payment cardon a specially equipped merchant terminal that then transmits payment detailswirelessly, eliminating the need to swipe the card through a reader. The newsolution is ideal for traditional cash-only environments where speed isessential, such as quick service restaurants, gas stations and movie theaters. Last year, MasterCard successfully completed market trials of MasterCardPayPass, which utilizes OTI's contactless card technology. Hypercom'sintegration of contactless technology-enabled terminals in the U.S. will be animportant step in the successful expansion of the MasterCard PayPass programplanned for later this year. "The card payment terminal market is continually evolving to givecustomers greater purchasing flexibility and boost merchant sales. The optionsthat OTI technology provides are ideal for meeting these evolving marketneeds. We found OTI's technology and value proposition to be right on themark," said Eric Duprat, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and ProductDevelopment. "Hypercom now supports MasterCard PayPass on all T7Plus and ICEterminals with our standard HyperWare payment application, VAR developmenttools and OTI's Saturn 5000 reader."

RFID Smart Card: OTI Smart Cards in China

From Wireless IQ, Apr 5, 2004 ... CUPERTINO Calif. On Track Innovations Ltd. (Frankfurt)- OT5) a global leader in contactless microprocessor-based smart card solutions today said that distribution of electronic ID cards that carry OTI's technology has begun ...

Catuity Informed of Smart Chip Technology Phase-Out by Major Customer

March 2, 2004 Catuity, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTTY; ASX: CAT), provider of loyalty software for transaction processors, card issuers and merchants, today announced that a major customer of the company has indicated that it will phase out its smart chip technology program.

Catuity was notified by Target Corporation that it has elected to phase out its use of smart chip technology over the next 12 months. This technology was the first to be used on a nationwide basis by a major retailer and contained the Catuity software as part of an e-couponing smart loyalty application.

"We are disappointed this specific program will not be going forward. Catuity is fortunate that our loyalty software supports a variety of consumer identification devices. While in this instance it was smart chip technology, the system works equally well for mag stripe, contactless, RFID or bar codes and we are hopeful that we can continue to work with Target in the future," stated Michael V. Howe, president and CEO of Catuity.

Howe indicated that Catuity is evaluating the impact on 2004 forecasted revenue and net income. "We believe at this time it will be material. The company will provide additional information in its Form 10K filing in mid-March." About Catuity, Inc.

Catuity, Inc. is a leading provider of loyalty program management and e-coupon software to merchants, card issuers and processors. Clients of Catuity use the software to establish and administer a new breed of customer loyalty and e-coupon programs that immediately reward profitable behavior by customers at the point of sale. The patented software can be used to attract and retain customers and to encourage more valuable purchases, thereby resulting in greater revenue for the merchant or card issuer. The Catuity system supports many forms of customer ID, including mag-stripe, smart cards and RFID tokens. Catuity's smart card loyalty applet has been loaded on millions of chip-based credit cards. Catuity's software is in use in more than 4,200 U.S. stores, including multi-lane mass merchandisers and local independent retailers. In addition to its innovative software, Catuity also provides marketing expertise and support services to its clients. More information on Catuity is available at its website: http://www.catuity.com.