Integrated Card Technologies (ICT), the smart card sister company of NamITech, part of the JSE Securities Exchange-listed Nampak group, has announced it is the first company in SA to manufacture Mifare contactless smart cards. Mifare is the new, internationally recognised standard for secure contactless smart cards.
Clive Handley, security specialist at NamITech, said the company has also developed its own Mifare contactless smart card reader range, due to the lack of functionality of the current range of readers available internationally. The new readers are also manufactured locally.
"Although contactless smart cards are a new trend, it is already clear that contactless and traditional contact smart cards - which are currently still in wider use - will eventually converge and be incorporated into one dual interface smart card," said Handley.
He said one of the problems with the traditional contactless cards is that they did not possess the same levels of security as contact-based smart cards.
"The new contactless smart cards are now able to provide the power and security to be used effectively and safely in a contactless environment." Contactless smart cards, which do not require a firm swipe, are suitable for a number of high volume/low value applications, including public transport and access control.
Handley said contactless smart cards are being used for the public transport system in Seoul, Korea, "with a great degree of success".
Over 14 million cards have already been issued. "There are definitely opportunities for this new technology in SA," he said, "and this is one of the reasons why we are pioneering this new smart card technology." Handley said NamITech intends to provide a one-stop solution to the marketplace: "You will be able to get the card from us, be assured that you will have the in-built security - thanks to a smart card chip - and we will also be able to personalise the chip and card to exact client specifications. Our locally developed reader also has the ability to support the dual interface of the emerging contact/contactless smart cards. In fact, we are already using both technologies - with our special card reader - for access control at our secure Visa and MasterCard accredited facility in Linbro Park."
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