Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

New web site makes leading smart card resource faster and friendlier

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

The Smart Card Alliance has a new web site that makes it easier for visitors to find what they’re looking for. Those visiting the new site can access popular alliance-authored reports, case studies and position papers, all available at no charge, and find links to other industry resources.


PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ –With more than 73,000 visitors and 18,000 downloads per month, the Smart Card Alliance Web site is the premier resource for information and news about smart card technology and its application for payments, identity management and eGovernment. Now, visitors can easily find exactly what they need with fewer clicks at the Alliance’s fully redesigned Web site, www.smartcardalliance.org.

“The goal with the new Web site is to make it easier to locate sought-after information,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “To this end, we have implemented a number of features that make navigation simple and intuitive: new site architecture and menus, quick links to the most popular content, easy printing capabilities, and a site search tool.”

Visitors to the new site can access popular Alliance-authored reports, case studies and position papers, all available at no charge, and find links to other industry resources. Other content includes:

– Updated information about the smart card industry including applications, frequently asked questions and glossary – Industry news and event information – Smart card reader catalog – Smart Card Alliance career center, the premier resource for making online employment connections in the smart card industry

“Providing the latest trends, implementation data and research from all of the leaders in the industry is one of the Smart Card Alliance’s strengths,” added Vanderhoof. “Now there are better tools to meet all of the informational needs of our audience.” [end] 

Jaspersoft announced that CardSmith is using its business intelligence suite to provide campus customers with better decision-making through Web-based reports, dashboards and analysis.

CardSmith embeds Jaspersoft in its Software as a Service (SaaS) transaction solution enabling administrators to create reports that analyze student and consumer behavior. The CardSmith managed service provides educational institutions with campus card services without the incremental IT resource investments.

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K-Plussa launched an upgraded, contactless version of its cash card to provide a faster and easier shopping experience for costumers at the checkout. K-Plussa is a customer loyalty programmed in Finland offering benefits to its customers from over 3,000 shopping places and over 40 business partners.

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Digital security provider Gemalto has launched Dexxis EMV instant issuance card product, designed to streamline and speed up banks’ migration to EMV by bringing card issuance processes in-house.

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Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, has announced the launch of a SIM-based NFC road toll payment application on the Turkcell T11 smart phone.

Developed in collaboration with Bank Asya, the app allows users to migrate their plastic KGS toll payment cards onto their T11 smart phone to pay for fares when crossing bridges and freeway turnpikes.

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As more and more schools make the transition to smart cards, it’s easy to forget that some universities are quite happy with their mag-stripe cards. An article at Assa Abloy’s Future Lab Web site points out that some colleges have withstood moving to smart cards, either because it’s too expensive or students and faculty haven’t asked for them.

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Identive Group Inc. has announced a deal to acquire a majority stake in Hamburg, Germany-based payment solution AG, a cashless payment system provider for stadiums, arenas and other types of entertainment venues.

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