Smart Bits: Industry Lauds German GeldKarte Creator

The Smart Card Industry Association gave its 1997 Outstanding Smart Card Application Award to Zentral Kreditausschuss, the banking organization responsible for the German GeldKarte project.

The award was presented at a banquet during the Cardtech/Securtech conference in Orlando last May.

GeldKarte is the name of the German nationwide stored-value system, which combines a chip-based electronic purse with a debit card. Other applications, such as public transportation ticketing, can be added to the system.

The purse application is being used for local stores, parking garages, and taxis.

In 1996 about 25 million smart cards were issued to bank customers, with another 30 million expected to be issued this year.

Other nominees for the award were the Seoul Bus Union System, Holland's student chip card, Shell Oil's U.K. Loyalty Card, and the Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium Card.

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