The following pages are taken from a document entitled What's so smart about smart cards which was produced by The Smart Card Forum (now part of The Smart Card Alliance) and Gemplus.

"We hope that you find this short overview on the smart card world educational and informative. Since the Smart Card Forum was founded in 1993, the application of smart card systems within North America has expanded and now, at the verge of the new millennium, we see exciting possibilities for these systems. The Internet has created enormous opportunities while it has also created privacy and security challenges. We see smart card systems enabling privacy and security in this virtual world and as a linchpin in creating increased high-assurance business to business commerce. We expect you will find this brochure informative and hope you will take advantage of the varied Smart Card Forum educational programs, workgroups, conferences, and research materials in enabling privacy and security in your businesses."

Contents

• What is a smart card?
• How are smart cards used?
• What is the potential for the smart card business?
• Why are other countries ahead of the U.S. in applying smart card technology?
• Why are interoperability and enforced standards crucial to widespread adoption of smart cards?
• What are the major benefits that smart cards offer consumers?
• What is a multiple application card?
• How is a smart card different from the magnetic stripe card that I carry in my wallet?
• What is the cost of an average smart card?
• Why is reloadability important to the development of the smart card vis-a-vis disposable cards?
• How secure and confidential are smart cards?
• The Smart Card Alliance

Download What's so smart about smart cards? (153K)