Welcome to the November issue of CSI-Digest. The primary objective of this newsletter is to keep you informed of major global smart card industry developments on a monthly basis.

We will also let you know, where in the world you can meet with us, and will update you on any news relating to CSI.

This month, CSI is pleased to announce that we have been nominated for two Irish Software Industry awards including "Software Company of the Year". We are very proud of this nomination considering that there are a very large number of high quality software companies in Ireland.

CSI is currently recruiting Software Developers, Project Managers and Technical Support staff. If you are interested or know somebody who would be interested, full details are available.

Regards Sarah Flynn, Editor

Killen & Associates:
Annual Volume of Smart Card Recharges by 2005 - 27 Billion

According to a new study from Killen & Associates, smart cards worldwide will be recharged more than 27 billion times by the year 2005. This figure equates to approximately 80% of the total volume of credit card transactions in 1997. The study attributes this volume to consumer purchasing behavioural changes that will result in the replacement of cash with electronic purse for low value purchases.

Datamonitor:
Potential for Smart Bank Cards in Europe

Datamonitor's new report "Smart Cards in European Financial Services" has revealed two major findings; a) That European smart bank cards at present represent 96% of the global market and b) That the UK will account for almost 30% of the future Electronic Purse market.

Killen & Associates:
Telcos Need to Expand by adopting Smart Card Technology

"Advances in smart card technology now enable telephone companies including British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica to compete directly with banks for new payment markets." This is one conclusion from a new study to be released by Killen & Associates in December.

TechWeb:
Smart Cards Safer than Cash in Nigeria

Nigerian Banks have begun using smart cards in response to a critical need for greater security. In a country where only one percent of the population uses banks, and where cash robberies are frequent and violent, smart cards which are being used to help protect customers, are seen as an attractive alternative to carrying cash.

American Express:
Amex & Continental Airlines Launch Pilot in US

American Express and Continental Airlines have announces a pilot program using Smart Corporate Cards for faster US airport check-in. According to American Express, "This smart card gives time-pressed travelers the three things they crave most: the ability to save time by avoiding standing in long lines, the ability to view and update their personal travel profile information and the convenience of having one card to use when traveling." This pilot will encompass several thousand cardholders and will run through to May 1998.

Mondex:
Mondex Goes Live in Hong Kong

This month, HongkongBank and Hang Seng Bank Ltd in conjunction with Mondex launched the largest full scale roll-out of Mondex in Hong Kong. All customers of the two banks will be eligible for Mondex cards and over 5,000 merchants have agreed to accept Mondex for payments.

TechWeb:
EU Give European Chip Makers USD2.3 Billion Boost

The European Union has released details of an ambitions USD2.3 billion research program to focus European chip-making skills in those areas where they can compete with Asia and America. Europe consumes 20 percent of the world's chips yet only produces 10 percent of the total. The Microelectronics Development for European Applications program, named Medea, will run for four years.

Yahoo News:
US West and Amex Announce Smart Card Trial

US West Public Services and American Express have launched a limited smart card technical trial in Seattle this month. US West employees will test the re-loadable electronic purse cards to pay for purchases at the company's gift shop, cafeteria and vending machines.

News.com:
China to Set Smart Card Standards by Year End

Visa International has said that China is expected to set its standards for smart cards by the end of 1997. Visa signed an agreement with the People's Bank of China (the central bank) to develop national standards for this type of payment card and the Shanghai government has agreed to accept the standards. Other cities are likely to follow.

Newsbytes:
Visa Cash Launched in Leeds

Around 70,000 users of Visa Cash will be able to use the card for small value transactions in over 2,000 outlets in Leeds over the next year. Of the six financial institutions involved in this scheme, Abbey National, Barclays/Barclaycard and Lloyds will be adding this feature to their existing cards, while Co-operative Bank, the Halifax and Royal Bank of Scotland will be issuing separate cards.

American Express:
Consortium Established to Lead SET Implementation

JCB Company Ltd, MasterCard International, Visa International and Amex have joined forces to help lead the implementation of the recently published SET Secure Electronic Transaction 1.0 protocol. This move is expected to promote the worldwide acceptance of the SET protocol and thereby strengthen the security of global Internet commerce.

GCA:
GCA to Establish Global Smart Card Service Mark

The Global Chipcard Alliance has announced that it intends to establish a service mark, which will indicate "GCA approved" smart cards and products. These products will fulfil a strict global interoperability requirement set out by the GCA and will be recognisable by consumers.

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