Introduction to Smart Cards

A smart card reminds you of a credit card and it is quite similar in size and shape, but the interior of the card is totally different. First of all, the inside looks like a typical credit card that resembles a simple slice of plastic and it comprises of an embedded microprocessor. The microprocessor is placed beneath a gold contact pad that is present on one side of the card. Smart cards are quite prevalent in Europe as compared to the United States. In Europe, the health insurance and banking trades use these cards extensively. Every German citizen owns a card for health insurance. Although these cards have been around in their latest form for more than a decade, but it is only now that they have started to gain mileage in the United States.

The facts that are present on the stripe can simply be read, written, deleted or changed with regular equipment. Hence, the stripe is actually not the best place to stock delicate information. To safeguard the consumer, businesses in the U.S. have devoted in a renowned virtual processor that is based on the computer systems used for authentication and processing. In Europe, such a structure did not progress instead; the card conveys and holds the required acumen. Magicard printers and Mifare Readers are quiet adept in offering you the best usage for smart cards in the industry.

The microprocessor present on the smart card is used there for safety. The host computer and card reader actually "communicate" to the microprocessor. The microprocessor administers all the access to the data present on the card.  If the host computer reads and writes the smart card's random access memory (RAM), it would be identical to the diskette.

Smarts cards may consist up to 8 kilobytes of RAM, 346 kilobytes of ROM, 256 kilobytes of programmable ROM, and a 16-bit microprocessor. It uses a sequential interface and obtains its authority from exterior sources like a card reader. The processor uses a restricted set of commands for applications such as cryptography.

The most common smart card applications are:

1. Credit cards2. Electronic cash3. Computer security systems4. Wireless communication5. Loyalty systems (like frequent flyer points)6. Banking7. Satellite TV8. Government identification

Smart cards can be used with a smart-card reader in addition to a personal computer to substantiate a user. Web browsers can also use the technology to complement the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for enhanced safety of Internet dealings. The online buying uses the smart card and a PC armed with a smart-card reader. They can also be found in mobile phones and vending machines. Readers and terminals function with smart cards to gain card information and achieve a transaction. Usually, a reader interfaces with a PC for the majority of its processing requirements.  A terminal is an independent processing device and both the readers and terminals read and write to smart cards. uSmartCards is quiet renowned in offering the best technology for MagiCard Printers and Mifare readers at affordable rates for your organization.

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