This bundled ID card printing solution is geared toward small to mid-level companies.  Organizations that need customization for employee access or personalization for customers can benefit from this type of one-stop shopping.  Zebra (Eltron) announced this new packaged deal in early March 2009.  The system features your choice of a P110i or P120i card printer.  The combination also includes design software/templates, and a Logitech USB web cam (with a mini-tripod).  A packet of 200 PVC cards and a printer ribbon round out the collection.  This makes ordering an all-in-one ID system as easy as asking for the #4 combo meal at a drive through.  All the customer has to decide on is whether to select single or dual sided printing and if magnetic stripe encoding should be included.

This QuikCard ID Solution is ideal for businesses that need immediate enrollment capabilities without a large up-front investment.  The software is compatible with Microsoft Excel and CSV files.  This means information can be imported from existing databases to populate card fields. The included webcam negates the need to purchase a separate digital camera for ID photo capture.  However, other images can be uploaded into the card template if desired. 

Both the P110i and P120i printers offer full color and monochrome printing using dye sublimation and thermal resin ribbon.  These simple Load-N-Go cartridges are designed for installation that takes just a few seconds.  The iSeries ribbon detection software works to maximize printer performance and also indicates usage status.  This feature notifies the operator when cartridges are running low and need to be reordered.

These printers can be used for a wide variety of purposes.  Employee and student IDs, membership/loyalty cards, gift cards, and access devices are just a few examples.  The unit is small enough to be taken over the road for event management or trade shows as well.  With a printing speed of up to 120 full color cards per hour, keeping up with a busy ID enrollment schedule will be no problem.

Another Good Deal

Zebra isn’t the only manufacturer offering a great starter package.  The Datacard SP35 or SP55 Plus Bundle is another option.  This solution includes a single or dual sided printer, the ID Works Intro software, a 250 print ribbon and 500 PVC cards.  These Datacard models are designed to be user friendly.  They offer quick change supplies and an operator replaceable printhead.  Both the input and output hoppers are on the front of the machine for easy access and space conservation. 

This bundle does not include a camera so one must be purchased separately.  However, the Datacard does offer edge-to-edge printing, which covers the entire card surface.  This delivers a seamless look with no borders.  The SP35/55 can also be used for contact and contactless smart card programming (the entry level Zebra printers offer only magnetic stripe encoding).  These modules can be factory installed or field upgraded.  Such flexibility makes these printers ideal for companies that are likely to transition to more advanced card technologies in the future.

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Check out ID Superstore for low prices on a Zebra badge printer including the P110i printer and the Zebra P120i.

The Datacard company has been delivering ID card printing innovations to the market for over 35 years.  Their contribution to the mass production of personalized plastic cards for financial institutions has changed the face of businesses all over the world.   In 2008, the corporation achieved certification with the ISO 9001:2000 – an international quality assurance standard that customers can rely on. 

Digital photo ID solutions developed by this company are a standby for government and corporate environments; recent advances in holographic marking bring their card security to new levels.  In addition, all of this manufacturer’s equipment from manual feed desktop printers to high volume units can incorporate magnetic stripe and smart card encoding options.  Online assistance is also available for the entire line of printers so you will always have help when you need it. 

SP25 Plus

The SP25 Plus makes excellent ecological and financial sense for companies that like to keep a good handle on their flow of supplies.  Buying consumables to issue brand new cards is only necessary when expanding your customer or employee base (or when you must replace the occasional lost card).  This unit uses thermal technology to generate rewritable cards for small businesses in many sectors. 

Having the ability to physically update images and text such as expiration dates and reward balances is simple using this equipment.  Rewriting a card “while you wait” doesn’t take much of a customer’s time either since the process takes less than 12 seconds.  Temporary IDs that are turned in by visitors can also be tossed back in the hopper to be erased and reissued at your convenience.  If you want to print full color photos on one side of your cards and rewritable text on the other, the unique SP25 is the only printer in its class that can do this for you. 

SP35, SP55, and SP75 Plus

The front loading/dispensing SP35 is ideal for work environments where space is limited.  Field upgradeable options and continuous cleaning are just a couple of the advantages this user friendly device offers.  Add the soft sided carrying case to your order if you plan to take this 9 lb printer with you to off-site events. 

The SP55 and 75 models offer dual sided printing to double your available card surface and eliminate cluttered designs.  Both printers work well for mid/high volume use and can be outfitted with advanced encoding modules for smart cards and proximity devices.  The SP75 offers single and dual sided lamination that can be used in conjunction with printing or to simply laminate existing cards.  It is also the only Datacard printer currently offering the fluorescent ink option.

All the printers in this series feature Datacard’s ribbon saver technology that cuts your cartridge cost to a minimum by using only as much length as necessary for each job.  Advanced Image Technology featured on these printers ensures crisp, clean edges for photos, text and bar codes.  Add supply tray and equipment locks to keep your ID production in the right hands at all times.  

RP90 Plus and RL90 Laminator

This high-end model is designed with the needs of large businesses and government entities in mind. The RP90 brings you retransfer printing for increased durability and print quality on every card.  This technology also allows you to transfer images onto irregular surfaces without damaging delicate RFID chips or smart card connections on advanced access and data devices.  Take advantage of the Intelligent Supplies Technology on the drop-in ribbons used with this equipment to track consumable usage and reduce waste.  For applying DuraGard topcoats and laminates, you can have the PL90 module incorporated into your printer package.

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Check out ID Superstore for low prices on a Datacard card printer, including the Datacard SP35 and the Datacard SP55.

Smart Card and its Business Applications

Abstract

This white paper focuses on basic  technical information about  Smart Card and its applications in various areas of business.

What is Smart Card –An Overview

A smart card   is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits which can process data. This implies that it can receive input which is processed — by way of the Integrated Circuit Cart applications  and delivered as an output.

Fig 1 A Smart Card Pinout

Technical Specification of a Chip

Vcc : Power Supply Unit

RST : reset signal supplied from the interface device or in combination with an internal reset control circuit (optional use by the card). If internal reset is implemented, the voltage supply on Vcc is mandatory.

CLK : Clocking or timing signal (optional).

GND : Ground (reference voltage).

Vpp : Programming voltage input (deprecated / optional use by the card).

I/O : Input or Output for serial data to the integrated circuit inside the card.

There are two broad categories of Integrated Circuit Chip

• Memory cards contain only non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps some specific security logic.
• Microprocessor card contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally PVC. Using smartcards also is a form of strong security authentication for single sign-on within large companies and organizations.

Smart Card Applications follows:

Smart Card License System-

Gujarat was the first state in India to introduce the  Smart Card License System in 1999. To date the Gujarat Government has issued 5 million smart card driving licenses to its people. This card is basically a plastic card having ISO/IEC 7810 certification and integrated circuit, capable of storing and verifying information based on programming.

A quickly growing application is in digital identification cards. In this application, the cards are used for  authentication of identity. The most common example is in conjunction with a  Public Key Interface .The smart card will store an encrypted digital certificate issued from the Public Key Interface along with any other relevant or needed information about the card holder.

Examples include the  U.S Department of Defence  ,Common Access Card, and the use of various smart cards by many governments as identification cards for their citizens. When combined with biometrics, smart cards can provide two or three-factor authentication. Smart cards are not always a privacy-enhancing technology, for the subject carries possibly incriminating information about him all the time. By employing contactless smart cards, that can be read without having to remove the card from the wallet or even the garment it is in, one can add even more authentication value to the human carrier of the cards.

Applications in Computer Security Systems

• The Mozilla Firefox web browser can use smart cards to store certificates for use in secure web browsing
• Smart cards support functionality has been added to Windows Live Passports
• Smart cards are also used for single sign-on to log on to computers

Electronic wallets

The smart card chip can be loaded with funds which can be spent in parking meters and vending machines or at various merchants Cryptographic protocols protect the exchange of money between the smart card and the accepting machine. There is no connection to the issuing bank necessary, so the holder of the card can use it regardless of him being the owner.

Health care(Medicine)

Smart health cards can improve the security and privacy of patient information, provide the secure carrier for portable medical records, reduce health care fraud, support new processes for portable medical records provide secure access to emergency medical information, enable compliance with government initiatives and mandates, and provide the platform to implement other applications as needed by the health care organization

Conclusion:

we can conclude that  in the coming future most of the business transactions will happen through an electronic media i.e., transactions through smart cards. Not only business applications, but also healthcare industry can exploit the opportunities of smart card technology.

References:

http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/javacard/javacard3

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_card

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Scheidt & Bachmann’s Fare Collection & parking systems using smart card technology create a seamless experience for ridership and a wealth of data & functionality to the transit authority, regardless of the mode of transit.

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