Mr. Olearo,
BIT currently had no plan of developing the mentioned product.
Our product will soon be certified by a few large computer hardware/software companies; just in time for product shipment towards the last quarter.
SMARTCARD READER/WRITER CHIPSET
The PC Industry is preparing for the mass-market utilization of Smartcards in PC applications by the latter half of 1999. An international group of leading personal computer and "smart card" companies, including Microsoft, Schlumberger Electronic Transactions, Hewlett-Packard, Siemens Nixdorf Information AG and Bull CP8 (the "PC/SC" group), have announced they are working together to develop open standards that facilitate the integration of Smartcards into personal computers. The PC/SC group will achieve this by developing open specifications that ensure interoperability among Smartcards, Smartcard readers, applications, operating systems and computers made by various manufacturers.
As a result of BIT's innovative work and in-house expertise, Microsoft has selected the Company as a Beta site for the development of PC/SC products. BIT is playing a leading role in the development of this technology and is also using this opportunity to ensure the compliance of its Smartcard products to the PC/SC standards.
BIT has developed an innovative Smartcard reader/writer chipset that facilitates the processing of smart cards in computer systems. BIT's chipset, like the video chipset, will be incorporated onto the motherboards of the computers and into peripheral devices. At COMDEX 97 (November, 1997 - Las Vegas), the preeminent showcase of new and emerging computer technologies, BIT's chipset demonstrated an ability to read every major type of Smartcard in existence, a feat that distinguishes the Company from it competitors.
It is estimated that there are more than 100 million 32 bit windows-based operating systems installed today (Smartcard reader/writers will be used on 32-bit systems). Microsoft is presently shipping 5.4 million 32 bit windows-based operating systems per month to new users.
This is spurring our commitment to this product line. BIT's chipset development programme is currently developing a full range of chipset versions (PS/2, USB, Serial); demonstration units; evaluation packages for each chipset version; and to pursuit of compliance to other major standards including Mondex Approval Certificates. The full product-line will be available for shipment to computer manufacturers in Q4 1998.
BIT is well poised to secure a meaningful share of this market.
Please visit our website: www.bit-inc.com (currently being updated) early August for latest development.
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