I see that IBM is very much geared into Smart Cards and its future. I work at Circuit City and realize it is the future of E Commerce. Check out what a little company in Denver has been working on. There is a board here on RB for NPCT. This poster just substantiates what I have
felt was a valid addition to the antenna problem.
. I have been following for over a year now a small company called
Nanopierce Technologies (NPCT) that seems have a PI technology that may be very
useful in the production of Smart Cards. Check out this last news release and writeup I
just found.
DENVER, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanopierce Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: NPCT - news) today announced that it has engaged the prestigious
electronics industry consulting firm of Prismark Partners, LLC of Cold Spring
Harbor, New York to prepare a report for the Company based upon a multi-client
industry study Prismark is conducting.
The study is specifically targeted at the technology of and market for RF ID
Tags and Smart Labels and will be customized for the Company to include Smart
Cards. The Company is sponsoring the study with several other major industry
leaders.
Dr. Herbert J. Neuhaus, Executive Vice President of Technology and Marketing,
said, ''We feel very fortunate to retain an organization with the
international reputation and recognized excellence of Prismark to assist the
Company's entry into one of the most exciting and largest markets in the
electronics field. The Company believes that its technology will have a major
application in this explosive growth industry.''
. This advanced system is designed to
provide a significant improvement over conventional electrical and mechanical
interconnection methods for high-density circuit boards, components, sockets,
connectors, semiconductor packaging and electronic systems.
>From Smart Card International website at: smartcardintl.com
Did you know that by the year 2001, 4 billion Smart Cards will be in use?
Some Smart Card Interesting Facts!
They cannot be used by others if your card is lost or stolen. Information,
data and e-mail, can be sent safely, privately and securely by telephone or
computer with a Smart Card.
They provide a secured identification system, including a PIN number,
fingerprint, photograph, voice, or retina scan, right on the card, for instant
verification.
Money for purchases can be downloaded from a bank account by cell phone or
computer, televisions, participating ATMs from anywhere in the world on to a
Smart Card.
Purchases will soon be able to be made through the Internet, televisions and
telephones without having to give your credit card number.
All medical records, including x-rays, health insurance and medical benefits
can be stored on Smart Cards.
Campus Smart Cards are being used to hold student identification, tuition and
grades, as well as money for on- and off- campus purchases, phone calls and
public transportation.
Food stamps and other government benefits are now being distributed on Smart
Cards.
A Smart Card can be used for identification, entry into hotel rooms, for
purchases, international phone calls, reservations, any travel arrangements.
A poster on Raging Bull's NPCT board today posted the following information
(below). He sounds very knowledgeable to the smart card industry. I spoke
to Paul Metzinger in regard to the post and he confirmed that he was right on
in regard to the industry. He said that what Vegasone posted was precisely
in line with the focus of the visits that he and Herb Neuhaus had been making
to Europe recently.
Paul said that Nanopierce is dealing with a company that supplies the
critical component to attach a chip to the antenna in the smart cards, smart
tags, and smart labels. He said this company has access to all of the major
smart card manufacturers.
Nanopierce's Connection Technology (NCT) is an enabling technology that can
definitely cure the problem related to the breaking off of antennas. One of
the reasons why it is such a good technology for that purpose is that NCT is
flexible and will not break when it is bent. It is particularly good for
smart labels because they are paper thin and the slightest bend can break the
wire that connects to the antenna. If NCT should come loose through rough
handling it can be put back into place by simply pressing down on it with
your finger. That is the ultimate significance of the technology as relates
to smart labels and smart tags aside from being smaller, lighter, stronger,
having better radio frequency reception, more flexibility, etc. It provides
a reliable, cost effective, and secure connection that could very well become
the standard for the industry.
Posted by Vegasone post #1424:
I have been in the industry "access cards" for over 15 years. The biggest
problem with them is the antenna breaking off the chip. When you put these
cards in a wallet or put any stress on them - they stop working. They are not
as reliable as they could be. Noone IMO has been able to fix this problem and
still have a "thin" card. The original cards were very thick (about 3/8").
The newest cards (that work the longest) are about 1/8" thick. My experience
has been that at some point they require replacement (almost always because
the antenna breaks off). It is quite expensive to replace any type of
access/smart card - especially for employees. Not only do you have the cost
of the card, but you have down time by the employees - industry average
without a photo on the card is about $15. per card.
The NanoPierce technology, IMO would provide the following advantages for the
access/smart card industry;
1) Reduced manufacturing costs
2) Reduced warranty claims
3) Provide a more reliable long life smart card
4) Less costly (for the issuer) to maintain
IMO, this technology can provide superior products to those on the market
today. The potential cost savings are enormous and not just on the
manufacturing side...
Also check out the big conference in Chicago on Smart Cards at www.ctst.com.
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