Smart Card Technologies
Smart Card Technologies |
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RECENT
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDE:
More
capacity--in 2000, 50% of the SIM (subscriber identity module) cards
carried 8 kilobytes of application memory, 30% had 16K, 20% had 32K, with
64K now a reality.
PKI--
(public key infrastructure), a technology that encrypts data and
identifies the individual making the transaction is used in SIM cards in
mobile phones and full size chip cards. Last year’s U.S. enactment of the
electronic signature law (recognizing electronic signatures as legally
valid) provided for authentication via the internet, mobile phones or
handheld computers
Mifare
contactless technology—developed by Philips Semiconductors became type A
of the ISO 14443 standard for contactless chip cards.
Biometric
technology--identifies people by scanning fingerprints, retinas or the
shape of their face.
Recent
Applications:
In
the aftermath of September 11th, more emphasis is being placed on
security:
The
U.S. Transportation Department requested a panel of security, airline and
airport executives to review airport and aircraft security after
9/11. One of the recommendations was for a travel ID
card.
SecuGen
Corp. developed fingerprint recognition technology which will be used in
Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports. Smart card holders (employees)
will only be allowed to enter secure areas if identities match. Another
security-related idea which has encountered much debate in the U.S. is a
national ID card.
Several countries have already made use of the smart card for this
application:
China’s
adoption of the idea provides huge volume orders due to the magnitude of
their population (approximately 870 million adults). They will begin
piloting the operation in late 2001 or early 2002, for targeted completion
in 2010. UltraCard Inc. will
supply the test cards, a contactless version that communicates with
readers via radio signals rather than terminal insertion.
Malaysia’s
new national ID card is initially being rolled out in the area around
Kuala Lumpur. It uses PKI
(public key infrastructure) that includes a digitized version of the
person’s fingerprints, driver’s license, passport, health records,
electronic purse, and photo.
Finland’s
program is voluntary. The
FINEID was introduced in 1999, and may be used to verify Internet
transactions, passport applications, or Web purchases.
Argentina
recently launched a six-year program for ID cards featuring a 2Dbar code
with fingerprint biometric.
Their main purpose is to reduce voter fraud and illegal
immigration.
The
global proliferation of cell phones has contributed to the usage of smart
cards:
GSM
mobile phones carry smart cards inside each handset to identify consumers
to their mobile phone operators.
SIM (subscriber identity module) cards have the ability to request
location of a restaurant or apply a digital signature to a stock
transaction.
North
European banking conglomerate Nordea is launching a pilot this year with
Visa International and Nokia that would put a second chip card in mobile
phones-a Nordea issued Visa.
Tests
in France and Spain with a clip-on card reader attached to the mobile
phone allow consumers to make payments with full-size, bank-issued smart
cards.
The
Internet has also played a key
role:
The
U.S. Department of Defense is using the smart card as a means of Internet
security for as many as 500,000 civilian and military employees. The card, using PKI, allows them
to sign contracts and authorize purchases electronically. The estimated reduction in
purchasing paperwork is 85%.
Microsoft
is internally piloting a practice that utilizes the card to authenticate
network administrators before allowing them to access the system. Windows 2000 operating system has
a built-in option that allows network administrators to require workers to
insert smart cards before using office PCs.
Citibank
is planning to issue smart cards that store digital certificates and
encryption keys which will authenticate businesspeople to Web sites,
allowing them to make purchases, conduct negotiations and securely
transmit other sensitive documents
online.
The
American Express Blue Card, introduced in 1999 hooks up a smart card
reader to the pc. The card
unlocks an electronic wallet on AmEx Web servers which stores the
consumer’s credit card information. No one else can charge without the
card.
Transit
projects are another significant user of the technology:
Philips’
is testing a dual-interface Mifare card, a contactless version that allows
for mass transit payment without slowing down commuters.
Motorola
Inc. uses Type B chips from STMicroelectronics in transit projects.
Travelers
also benefit:
Frequent
international air travelers such as pilots, flight attendants, and
diplomats use smart cards issued by the Immigration and Naturalization
service to speed through immigration screening at eight airports in U.S
and Canada. The program, called Inspass, requires travelers to swipe cards
through machine readers and use a touch screen to verify hand geometry and
flight information. The beauty of the program is it allows these
passengers to bypass immigration lines.
AmEx
has used the smart card to target market upscale business travelers, in
partnering programs with hotels and airlines.
Other
recent uses:
One
of the latest developments includes a new power source developed by Power
Paper Ltd. This thin flexible
battery may be embedded into the card allowing for new and/or enhanced
applications. For
example: one card may contain
multiple accounts and allow viewing of balances by touching a button.
Motorola’s
technology called BiStatix, for release later this year, uses a computer
chip that wirelessly connects to a computer scanner. A trial run in March in the
Chicago Museum of Science and Industry’s Networld attraction provided an
opportunity for museum visitors who purchased the card to wave it over RF
readers and call up museum
information.
In
addition to privacy and theft concerns, one reason the Smart card has not
been adopted as quickly as originally believed is the lack of standards
for multiapplication cards:
MasterCard
International has finally joined GlobalPlatform, a smart card standards
group spearheaded by rival Visa International (American Express and JCB of
Japan are already members).
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