UAE card contract awarded to Gemplus

Gemplus has been awarded the contract to deliver smart cards for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) nationwide ID programme. The deal involves the issuance of over two million smart ID cards to the entire UAE population beginning in the middle of 2004.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Industry returns to double digit growth

Smart card manufacturer Schlumberger Smart Cards and Terminals has released its annual smart card analysis for 2002, with the upbeat message that shipment rates for microprocessor cards have surged back into double-digits with a 13% rise to 725 million units (Table 1). That followed a major drop in 2001, primarily caused by the collapse in demand for SIM cards for mobile phones.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Strong support for UK ID card,says poll

Flying in the face of current political thinking, a recent poll has found that identity cards would be welcomed with open arms in the UK.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Nordea offers smart card readers to customers

Nordea, one of the largest financial services groups in the Nordic and Baltic Sea region, is to offer its customers smart card readers which they will be able to use with cards it is issuing from the fourth quarter this year.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Standard Bank licenses ACI’s EMV technology

South African banking group Standard Bank has licensed a system from ACI Worldwide which will enable it to issue and manage a large volume of smart cards to meet the issuing requirements of EMV.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Calls made for European transport card

Calls for Europe and national governments to provide greater support for the deployment of European smart cards for transport have been made by e-Europe Smart Cards (eESC), the European Union initiative set up to accelerate and harmonise the development and usage of smart cards across Europe. According to the group, Europe now needs actively to support passenger transport e-ticketing systems based on smart cards, rather than just funding research and investigation.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Thailand to issue smart ID cards

Thailand’s government plans to roll out a smart national ID card to its citizens from November this year, according to local press reports. The multi-application cards will eventually be issued to all citizens aged one or above, and will store a card holder’s personal data, as well as a digitised fingerprint, and insurance, tax and welfare benefit information.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

All power to the SIM

With the advent of 3G mobile telephony, the demands placed on the memory and processing capabilities of SIM cards have increased dramatically. In order to cope with these demands, and to provide significantly enhanced capabilities, almost all the main players have now launched 128K SIM cards.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

German transport project takes delivery

More than 1.7 million contactless smart cards have been delivered to the German public transport associations VRR and VRS as part of one of the largest smart-card-based transit projects in Europe. VRR and VRS represent 54 different transport operators and cover an area with over 10 million inhabitants.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Pay as you go system installed at FNBO

The First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), one of five national banks currently issuing financial smart cards in the US, has taken delivery of a smart card personalisation and issuance system from the Datacard Group.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Gemplus personalisation sites get EMV certified

Gemplus has completed EMV certification at all of its personalisation sites worldwide. The certification of its Herne site in Germany brings its total number of certified sites to eight, and gives Gemplus the ability to process as many as 16 million EMV cards in 12 weeks.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Schlumberger’s results encouraging

Schlumberger Ltd’s third quarter financial results have shown up a greatly improved performance for its smart cards and terminals division, which was recently renamed Axalto in a bid to increase the visibility of its operations.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

London’s Oyster card goes public…

One of the world’s most complex travel networks has begun issuing contactless smart cards to its customers, following years of preparations and trials. London’s Oyster smart card programme could see an end to lengthy queues, as well as combating the problem of fraud and hassle of losing a valuable season ticket.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

DoS receives smart employee badges

The US Department of State (DoS) has taken delivery of more than 17,000 smart-card-based employee badges. The cards and readers were supplied by XTec and ImageWare Systems. As a subcontractor of Northrop Grumman Information Technology, XTec was selected to provide a smart card issuance and production solution along with secured smart card access control readers.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Smart card market leaves doldrums years behind

The transition to 3G mobile phones in the telecoms sector, the migration toward using EMV smart cards in the financial world and the increasing use of smart cards as part of national ID projects will help drive the smart card industry forward in 2003, according to new research. Market analyst group Frost & Sullivan claims that this combination of factors should help manufacturers leave the difficult market conditions experienced in 2002 behind them, as long as they are able to select and develop appropriate strategic partnerships and alliances prior to entering new market segments.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

USA embraces SIM technology

Just three years ago SIM cards were present in less than 6% of the USA’s mobile phones. Today that figure has jumped to approximately 20%, representing more than 30 million US residents.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Orga drives ahead

The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has placed an order for some two million high-end smart cards that will be issued to truck drivers in order to comply with European Union safety directives. The EU directive requires that all new trucks and buses be equipped with a digital tachograph by August 2004. The UK is one of the first countries that will implement the technology.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

ACT wins UK asylum seeker card contract

Applied Card Technologies has won the contract to design and develop the smart card system behind the UK’s ‘Cash Payment for Asylum Seekers’ scheme. The deal was awarded by SodexhoPass UK and involves programming of point-of-sale terminals and installation of a communications server system. The deal also includes the provision of emergency smart cards to be issued to asylum seekers waiting for official clearance.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Boeing issues smart ID cards to its employees

Boeing, one of the world’s leading aerospace companies, is embarking on an ambitious plan to roll out over 200,000 corporate smart ID cards to its staff globally. The project, once implemented, would be one of the world’s largest deployments of such technology by a private corporation.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

G&D rolls out home banking system

Hypothekarbank Lenzburg (HBL), one of Switzerland’s major regional independent banks, is to offer its customers a new online banking service. The company’s traditional home banking procedure based on entry of a PIN and TAN (transaction number) will be replaced by the use of smart cards. The technology is being supplied by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) and its technology partners Trivadis and AET.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.