Card Briefs: British Telecom Enlists in Chip Card Group

British Telecommunications PLC has become the 27th member of the Global Chipcard Alliance.

The alliance was initiated by other major telecommunications companies including US West, which provides an administrative base in Seattle. The phone companies were later joined by American Express Co., Citicorp, Gemplus Group, Microsoft Corp., Mondex USA, Schlumberger, and others.

The alliance said British Telecom will bring "significant experience" from its pioneering work with smart cards for public telephones. British Telecom's participation "demonstrates the broad support for the GCA's efforts to achieve worldwide smart card interoperability," said David Anastasi, the US West executive who serves as the alliance's president. "We depend on the diversity of our members to provide an open environment where smart/chip card advancement can flourish."

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