Smart Cards Go to College

Smart Card Resources:

• Smart Card Forum
• Smart Card Industry Association
• The Smart Card Resource Center

"A smart card can be viewed as a computer in your pocket," says William Barr of Smart Card Forum. "What you can do with a computer you can also do with a smart card."

The cards, which look just like credit cards but have a computer chip embedded to store data and run simple applications, number fewer than 10 million worldwide. But that number is expected to reach 3.85 billion in the next five years, according to Datamonitor. Most of the existing smart cards are in the hands of Europeans, but testing is taking place in the United States to determine their best applications.

Cards' Myriad Uses for Michigan Wolverines

Students at the University of Michigan are using the "M-Card." It serves as an ID card and much more. A computer chip embedded on the front of the card can store data, such as financial or medical records. A magnetic strip on the back lets them use the card at ATMs.

Also on The Money Machine:

"One card can function (by) carrying their meal plan when they walk into the cafeteria," Barr says. "It can provide access to the dormitories. They can get on college computers and use it to authenticate their access to the Internet."

More than 25 campuses from Michigan to Florida are experimenting with smart cards, and the students are starting to use them off campus as well.

"In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the value of the card is propagated through the town so that students and faculty can use it to ride on the mass transit systems," Barr says.

Smart Card Forum

The Smart Card Forum is an industry group that monitors and promotes the use of smart cards. In a recent poll of 2,400 people, it found that 76 percent were interested in having a smart card, citing convenience and security as the key reasons. While not completely foolproof, smart cards are more difficult to counterfeit than traditional cards that carry only magnetic strips.

ZDNN Reports:

• The cards could be a long time coming

"It requires hundreds of thousands of dollars, equipment, and great knowledge of fairly specific areas of technology (to counterfeit the cards)," explains Smart Card Forum's Patrick Gauthier.

An international phenomenon

Although the smart card is in its infancy in the United States, it's used widely in France to fight phone fraud. And because of the added security the card offers, other applications, such as home banking and online trading, are rapidly being developed.

As Gauthier says, "Within three years, by the end of the year 2000, I expect one fourth of U.S. households will have a card and be using it."

Smart Visa:

A more powerful, intelligent credit card is evolving.  At Zero Enterprises you will find SmartTech Solutions, we're proud to already offer our customers advanced 32K Smart Chip Technology with a Smart Visa card.  

Every Smart Visa card has a tiny 32K microprocessor chip embedded on the front of the card.  When paired with an optional smart chip reader*, this chip will simplify online shopping and digitally encrypt every transaction for enhanced security.  And that's just the beginning.  Soon, applications will permit cardholders to send, receive and store information using these small but powerful memory chips.  *The smart chip reader is available for $19.95, plus shipping and handling.

Future Smart Chip Technology:

Smart chips are already being used across America and Europe on everything from transit passes to calling cards.  At SmarTech, we know this new technology will bring our customers next-generation convenience and security.  

Smart-chip technology could enable special shopping discounts and other promotions to be loaded directly onto your smart chip.  We're working on these sorts of enhancements right now so with a Smart Visa card in-hand today, you'll be prepared for the future.

Smart Chip Reader:

How does it work?
The smart chip reader will permit us to identify you, by reading your card and requesting a private Personal Identification Number (PIN). In this way, the smart chip reader will protect your card activity much like an ATM protects your bank transactions. It's simply smarter, and more secure, than a traditional card.

Learn more about Smart cards & Smart Chip Technology?  See Frequently Asked Questions.