Perhaps indicative that its long-predicted blossoming has finally occurred, membership in the Smart Card Alliance has grown by more than 45% in the last year, with 54 new organizations becoming members.
The Frost & Sullivan Americas Smart Card Market Analysis report published in September predicts that the smart card industry will grow rapidly in North America, at a 27.7% compound annual rate over the next five years, from the 132.2 million cards shipped in 2004. The report predicts even greater growth in Latin America, a 59% compound annual growth rate over the next five years, from 136.4 million cards shipped in 2004.
"What is particularly exciting about this growth is that we are pulling members from new industries and technologies. This really demonstrates how widespread the adoption of smart cards is becoming." said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance.
In mainstream computer products and services, large blue-chip organizations that have joined the Alliance this year include Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems Inc, Sony Electronics and Sun Microsystems.
