Smart Bits: Minn. Firm Upgrades Smart Card Production

DataCard Group has introduced P3, a system that it says makes smart card production faster, simpler, and more secure.

The company said it worked with Racal Airtech Ltd. and Visa International to develop the system, initially for cards in the Visa Smart framework. It has been enhanced to accommodate the Multos operating system and the MasterCard Payment Application, both more closely associated with Visa Cash competitor Mondex.

P3, which stands for Personalization Preparation Process, is "the de facto standard for high-volume smart card issuance, especially in the financial arena," said Bonnie Lervik, senior vice president of DataCard Worldwide, one of the three DataCard subsidiaries.

She said customers in Asia and Europe are using P3. Versions are coming for "DataCard's lower-volume card-issuance systems, including desktop products. We fully expect to have a desktop Multos/MCPA application ready this summer."

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