- Email: [email protected]
WLAN roaming trials announced
news
aviation
Suppliers chosen for Canadian airport card The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has chosen the team of suppliers that will be responsible for issuing smart ID cards to workers at major airports across the country. The chip-based Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC) will be used to store both fingerprint and iris images to identify workers when they attempt to access restricted areas. The RAIC initiative will also involve a central database to verify the validity of any card issued in Canada. The project will led by Canadian-based ACME~Future Security Controls, who’s team will include Bioscrypt, Cross Match Technologies, HID and LG Electronics. Pilot tests are expected to begin imminently at Vancouver and Montreal airports, as well as at two smaller airfields at Kelowna, British Columbia, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The pilots are expected to last until May. The first phase of the RAIC programme will be implemented as an operational trial and will involve approximately 40,000 workers. If deemed to be a success the programme will scale up to 150,000 workers. The smart cards will be contactless, and should conform to the ISO 14443 Type B standard for contactless cards. Contact: Matthew Bogart at Bioscrypt, Tel: +1 905 624 7717, email:[email protected]
wlan
WLAN roaming trials announced Ericsson and TeliaSonera have performed international roaming trials using a SIM card to authenticate the user when accessing both GSM and WLAN networks. The companies are using Ericsson’s SIM card log on solution for WLAN to manage the process which is taking place between TeliaSonera’s GSM/WLAN networks in Finland and Sweden. The companies say that these are the first such trials to be conducted according to the guidelines of the GSM Association. The Ericsson EWAS (Ericsson WLAN Authentication Server) is used to connect the HomeRun WLAN network and the GSM network and to authenticate the user based on
Card Technology Today April 2004
the same trusted security mechanisms as used in the GSM systems. When this technology is introduced commercially, the companies claim that the same GSM SIM cards that are used in mobile phones will be able to be used for WLAN, significantly simplifying access to the Internet for business travellers. In addition to simplifying the use of WLAN, SIM card sign on for WLAN also increases the security of the WLAN service. The user of a WLAN equipped laptop only needs to insert a SIM card in their laptop. The network carries out the necessary signalling to make sure that the user is allowed to use the network; and after the user has concluded his/her session, bills it to the user’s monthly GSM phone bill. Ericsson’s WLAN system has been developed in cooperation with Swedish company ServiceFactory. Contact: Kathy Egan at Ericsson, Tel: +1 212 685 4030
rfid
Amex expands wireless payment system American Express (Amex) is continuing to expand its ExpressPay wireless payment system, which allows customers to wave a keyfob in front of a special POS reader to make a virtually instant payment transaction. The wireless payment system, which is using RFID technology from Texas Instruments, has already demonstrated a fast payback for both retailers and customers thanks to its ability to cut payment transaction times by a claimed 42% compared with typical credit card transactions. At its launch a few months ago the programme incorporated 175 retail and service locations. This has now doubled to more than 350 outlets in and around Phoenix in Texas. In addition, thousands of customers have now signed up to take advantage of the programme by registering their bank details so that payments can be automatically charged to their chosen account. Similar programmes are also underway by American Express in Singapore, involving approximately 2000 existing American Express card members. In this trial ExpressPay users will be able to pay for purchases with their keyfobs at more than 170 merchant locations. Further details about this pilot are expected later in the year. Contact: Texas Instruments RFID Systems, Tel: +44 1604 884088, email: [email protected]
in brief • While many large retailers, such as supermarkets, are already installing Chip and PIN technology, there is evidence that smaller, mid-tier, traders are finding the cost of upgrading legacy software systems and hardware too expensive. Bearing this in mind, DataCash has joined an IBM-led consortium that is developing a Chip and PIN payment terminal for rental by the mid-tier retail sector. The deal represents a departure for DataCash which up until now has focused on processing cardholder-not-present online transactions. The consortium will offer a complete solution to retailers for a fixed monthly charge of around £25 (US$45) per terminal. The package consists of consultancy, hardware, software, implementation and payment processing. • The Association for Payment Clearing Services in the UK has published a new standard that combines all of APACS’ pointof-sale standards (usually referred to as APACS 29, 30, 40 and 50) as well as providing up-todate information. Standard 70 – Card Acceptor to Acquirer Interface Standards, will be of most interest to equipment manufacturers, vendors and suppliers operating in the chip and PIN area. A beta release of the standard was released in March, with change requests to be reviewed between March and September. Version 1.0 will be issued in October 2004. • Cubic Transportation Systems announced it has received a US$7 million contract from the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to provide technology that will link BART to the regional mass transit smart card ticketing program known as TransLink. Cubic will deliver the hardware and software needed to allow the BART fare collection system to accept and process the TransLink card, as well as upload and download any fare table changes or other business rules implemented by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the regional planning agency in charge of the project that will link the region’s major transportation operators. Cubic’s technology will include its Tri-Reader, a smart card reader that can read any type of contactless smart card that meets ISO standards. This most recent contract brings the total to US$59.18 million in products and services that Cubic has delivered to BART since the original contract award in 1999. • Bitfone Corporation, a provider of overthe-air (OTA) software update technology for mobile phones, and Gemplus International, have announced a strategic agreement. The deal will see Bitfone’s mProve OTA software integrated with Gemplus’ GemConnect Device Manager.
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aviation
Suppliers chosen for Canadian airport card The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has chosen the team of suppliers that will be responsible for issuing smart ID cards to workers at major airports across the country. The chip-based Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC) will be used to store both fingerprint and iris images to identify workers when they attempt to access restricted areas. The RAIC initiative will also involve a central database to verify the validity of any card issued in Canada. The project will led by Canadian-based ACME~Future Security Controls, who’s team will include Bioscrypt, Cross Match Technologies, HID and LG Electronics. Pilot tests are expected to begin imminently at Vancouver and Montreal airports, as well as at two smaller airfields at Kelowna, British Columbia, and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The pilots are expected to last until May. The first phase of the RAIC programme will be implemented as an operational trial and will involve approximately 40,000 workers. If deemed to be a success the programme will scale up to 150,000 workers. The smart cards will be contactless, and should conform to the ISO 14443 Type B standard for contactless cards. Contact: Matthew Bogart at Bioscrypt, Tel: +1 905 624 7717, email:[email protected]
wlan
WLAN roaming trials announced Ericsson and TeliaSonera have performed international roaming trials using a SIM card to authenticate the user when accessing both GSM and WLAN networks. The companies are using Ericsson’s SIM card log on solution for WLAN to manage the process which is taking place between TeliaSonera’s GSM/WLAN networks in Finland and Sweden. The companies say that these are the first such trials to be conducted according to the guidelines of the GSM Association. The Ericsson EWAS (Ericsson WLAN Authentication Server) is used to connect the HomeRun WLAN network and the GSM network and to authenticate the user based on
Card Technology Today April 2004
the same trusted security mechanisms as used in the GSM systems. When this technology is introduced commercially, the companies claim that the same GSM SIM cards that are used in mobile phones will be able to be used for WLAN, significantly simplifying access to the Internet for business travellers. In addition to simplifying the use of WLAN, SIM card sign on for WLAN also increases the security of the WLAN service. The user of a WLAN equipped laptop only needs to insert a SIM card in their laptop. The network carries out the necessary signalling to make sure that the user is allowed to use the network; and after the user has concluded his/her session, bills it to the user’s monthly GSM phone bill. Ericsson’s WLAN system has been developed in cooperation with Swedish company ServiceFactory. Contact: Kathy Egan at Ericsson, Tel: +1 212 685 4030
rfid
Amex expands wireless payment system American Express (Amex) is continuing to expand its ExpressPay wireless payment system, which allows customers to wave a keyfob in front of a special POS reader to make a virtually instant payment transaction. The wireless payment system, which is using RFID technology from Texas Instruments, has already demonstrated a fast payback for both retailers and customers thanks to its ability to cut payment transaction times by a claimed 42% compared with typical credit card transactions. At its launch a few months ago the programme incorporated 175 retail and service locations. This has now doubled to more than 350 outlets in and around Phoenix in Texas. In addition, thousands of customers have now signed up to take advantage of the programme by registering their bank details so that payments can be automatically charged to their chosen account. Similar programmes are also underway by American Express in Singapore, involving approximately 2000 existing American Express card members. In this trial ExpressPay users will be able to pay for purchases with their keyfobs at more than 170 merchant locations. Further details about this pilot are expected later in the year. Contact: Texas Instruments RFID Systems, Tel: +44 1604 884088, email: [email protected]
in brief • While many large retailers, such as supermarkets, are already installing Chip and PIN technology, there is evidence that smaller, mid-tier, traders are finding the cost of upgrading legacy software systems and hardware too expensive. Bearing this in mind, DataCash has joined an IBM-led consortium that is developing a Chip and PIN payment terminal for rental by the mid-tier retail sector. The deal represents a departure for DataCash which up until now has focused on processing cardholder-not-present online transactions. The consortium will offer a complete solution to retailers for a fixed monthly charge of around £25 (US$45) per terminal. The package consists of consultancy, hardware, software, implementation and payment processing. • The Association for Payment Clearing Services in the UK has published a new standard that combines all of APACS’ pointof-sale standards (usually referred to as APACS 29, 30, 40 and 50) as well as providing up-todate information. Standard 70 – Card Acceptor to Acquirer Interface Standards, will be of most interest to equipment manufacturers, vendors and suppliers operating in the chip and PIN area. A beta release of the standard was released in March, with change requests to be reviewed between March and September. Version 1.0 will be issued in October 2004. • Cubic Transportation Systems announced it has received a US$7 million contract from the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) to provide technology that will link BART to the regional mass transit smart card ticketing program known as TransLink. Cubic will deliver the hardware and software needed to allow the BART fare collection system to accept and process the TransLink card, as well as upload and download any fare table changes or other business rules implemented by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the regional planning agency in charge of the project that will link the region’s major transportation operators. Cubic’s technology will include its Tri-Reader, a smart card reader that can read any type of contactless smart card that meets ISO standards. This most recent contract brings the total to US$59.18 million in products and services that Cubic has delivered to BART since the original contract award in 1999. • Bitfone Corporation, a provider of overthe-air (OTA) software update technology for mobile phones, and Gemplus International, have announced a strategic agreement. The deal will see Bitfone’s mProve OTA software integrated with Gemplus’ GemConnect Device Manager.
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