A story on Schlumberger discusses smart cards, biometrics, and PC OEMs:
"According to [Olivier Piou, Schlumberger's VP for smart card products], the current rate of evolution of the smartcard means that by the year 2005, it will have to incorporate over one megabyte (MB) memory - five times as much as the most advanced cards currently available - and processing capability which will be in an order of magnitude higher than today.
"'On the software side, we will see the increasing use of open systems and the introduction of enhanced security with cryptography and biometrics becoming standards.'
"In addition, Piou said the smartcard will also be 'network-friendly' with its own Internet protocol (IP) number.
. . .
"In another development, Schlumberger is working with a number of hardware vendors like Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and IBM to provide computing products with built-in smartcard readers.
"The partnership with Compaq is expected to be announced in the next few weeks, Piou said. This will be followed by the other partners within the next six months."
--- From the New Strait Times, Malaysia, June 28, 1999.
Lots of dots to connect in this story. I continue to believe that HP and IBM are the next most likely OEMs to sign up to biometrics after Compaq. |
