WHAT IS A SMART CARD ?

A Smart Card is one of the latest additions to the world of Information Technology. It is similar in size to the current credit card and has an embedded microprocessor o memory space.

MAIN FEATURES :

SECURITY: The data stored in a smart card are protected by sophisticated security mechanisms. Accordingly, it is extremely difficult and expensive to fraudulently alter the data or copy the card. The chips are designed to perform advanced cryptographic calculations; for instance, the basic authentication of a card requires that the same performs at least 1,600,000 multiplications (16x16 digits).

CAPACITY: Smart Cards are capable of storing more data than any other device of its kind. The most commonly used magnetic band cards may store up to 135 bytes of data, whereas the most commonly used Smart Cards are able to store 4000 bytes of data. This increased capacity has lead to the development of multiplication technologies, which provides for the possibility to have different applications residing at the same time in a single card, e.g. credit card, debit card, fidelity point, security identification, just to name a few. At present, there are smart cards of up to 2 MB of storage capacity.

FLEXIBILITY: Smart Card technology is compatible with the main types of operating systems on computers and portable devices. Their programming environment provides for the creation, storage or deletion of applications; accordingly, it is possible to develop custom-made smart cards by selecting the applications that best adapt to the circumstances and needs of each individual.

ADAPTABILITY: Thanks to the characteristics inherent in Smart Cards, they can be naturally included in the entire information generation and management chain of any sector, whether economic, educational, financial, commercial, identification security, telephone, health, etc.


Types of smart Cards:

+Memory Smart Cards
+Microprocessor Smart Cards
+Contact Smart Cards
+Contactless Smart Cards

Types of Smart card Readers :

+With PC Conection (USB, Serial, PCMCIA)
+Point of Sale (POS)
+Identification Security Points
+Integrated to specific equipment
+ATMs
+Vending Machines
+Telephones
+Parking meters
+Doors and access