Datacard Group announced that the Datacard Affina Life Cycle Management
System has enabled Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd. to become the first
issuer to enable new applications to be added to Visa smart cards after
issuance. Visa cardholders in Japan are the first in the world to download
applications to their smart cards via the Internet.
The Affina system, on demonstration at CARTES 2002, November 5 – 7 in
Paris, France, enables SMCC’s launch of an innovative new service that
allows cardholders to download PC network access functions to
GlobalPlatform multi-application Visa smart cards. To download an
application, SMCC cardholders need only insert the Visa smart card into a
reader connected to their PC and enter an ID and password for cardholder
identification. SMCC expects strong demand for this type of card and plans
to issue at least 100,000 such cards within one year.
“What Affina provides for our customers is the ability to improve customer
loyalty, increase security and react quickly to changing market
conditions,” said Chris Lomax, vice president of Datacard’s solutions
group. “The capability of systems enabled by Affina to download
applications onto a smart card after it has been issued provides a unique
flexibility that not only meets the changing needs of card holders but does
so without the time, effort and expense of re-making and re-issuing cards,”
he added.
The Affina system is designed to manage multi-application smart card
programs. It manages the entire life cycle of each smart card–including
all phases of pre-issuance, as well as post-issuance after cards reach
consumers’ hands. Applications can be loaded, blocked or deleted at any
time, and new card-based services can be made instantly available via the
Internet or private network. The Affina system maintains information on
every smart card issued, making it fast and simple to replace lost or
stolen cards. This intelligence allows powerful customer relationship
databases to be built which contain valuable marketing information about
cardholders, their preferences and behaviors.
Datacard Group provides software, systems and professional services needed
to build profitable card programs. The company’s portfolio also includes a
complete line of smart card solutions, secure digital identity systems and
card personalization systems. Datacard Group is privately held and based in
Minnetonka, Minn. Datacard Group serves customers in more than 120
countries. (www.datacard.com).
