CardGuide international

• Skycore LLC's codeREADr app authenticates NFC transactions embedded in tags, wristbands, FOBs and phones.
• First pilot tracks & validates reusable, rechargeable NFC wristbands for secure ticketing and stored value.

Skycore LLC, developers of the commercial barcode and NFC validation app, codeREADr, are powering the first pilot where reusable, rewearable NFC-embedded wristbands can be tracked and validated using mobile, NFC-enabled Android devices. Wristbands embedded with NFC chips are currently used by some festival organizers to improve ticket security. Some multi-use transit cards, like Boston's CharlieCard, include NFC chips to enable fast, contactless validation. However, in both cases those tickets are typically validated either with stationary hardware or expensive mobile computers.

In future, the Latvian Ministry of the Interior will be relying on German IT infrastructure technology for the issue and verification of electronic identification documents. The Essen-based IT security company secunet Security Networks AG is providing the software for the new Latvian passport and migration information system. secunet will be assuming the role of subcontractor to the Riga-based technology company Lattelecom.

VeriFone Systems, Inc. announced certification of its EMV/NFC-enabled payment processing solution from Vantiv, Inc. The two companies have cooperated on certification of the VeriFone Evolution payment platform for EMV payments. Each device in the VX Evolution family offers advanced technology capabilities including NFC, EMV, tighter security with PCI PTS 3.0, higher-level performance and the ultimate in reliability, all on the proven VX platform. With VeriFone's ongoing EMV and security compliance services, merchants can rest assured in their ability to meet evolving requirements.

INSIDE Secure's First Integration of MicroRead Chip and Open NFC Software into Microsoft Windows Phone Device

INSIDE Secure announced that its NFC solution has been integrated into the new Nokia Lumia 610 NFC smartphone, based on the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 platform.

"We are very excited to be providing the NFC core technology for the Lumia 610 NFC, and to be working with Nokia on the development of this NFC smartphone," said Charles Walton, General Manager, NFC and Secure Payments, INSIDE Secure. "Our Open NFC protocol stack has been successfully integrated into the Windows Phone 7 environment for the Lumia 610 NFC, demonstrating INSIDE Secure's ability to develop tailored and innovative solutions for multiple mobile operating systems."

MIFARE4 Mobile merges with mobile devices

The MIFARE4Mobile Industry Group, which consists of players in the Near Field Communication (NFC) ecosystem including Ericsson, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, NXP Semiconductors, Oberthur Technologies, STMicroelectronics and ViVOtech, announced a significant milestone in the adoption of MIFARE contactless technology on mobile devices. More than 500 public transport operators, system integrators, consultants and service providers have now downloaded the MIFARE4Mobile™ specifications since its release, paving the way for upcoming launches of mobile ticketing solutions.

Near Field Communication (NFC) gained widespread global acceptance in 2011 as it adds convenience and additional uses to mobile devices. NFC-enabled handsets increasingly become mainstream products for consumers while contactless applications - including payment, transit ticketing and access management - continue to grow in popularity. The MIFARE4Mobile specifications act as glue between NFC and the MIFARE technology platform: they enable the realization and secure implementation of MIFARE-based contactless applications on mobile devices, meeting the expectations of end-users to leverage their smart phones for ticketing. The high level of interest and huge number of downloads is clearly indicating that the global industry is shifting gears in embracing this trend.

BadgePass, Inc. and Digital Identification Solutions announced the complete integration of BadgePass's Identity Manager credentialing software with the EDIsecure® XID 8300 Retransfer Printer for single step smart card encoding and card issuance. Identity Manager is part of the BadgePass suite of security solutions which also includes Visitor Manager, Access Control and SmartReg. In Identity Manager, you can easily enroll user information, capture photos while also adding card information like card technology, card number and access privileges.

INSIDE Secure announced that its family of NFC solutions can now be used to interact with the Kovio RF Barcode™ wireless tag, an affordable NFC tag solution based on Kovio's printed silicon technology platform. Mobile devices powered by INSIDE's MicroRead® and SecuRead® NFC hardware and Open NFC™ protocol stack can now make it possible for brands, retailers, advertisers, mobile operators, and retail system integrators to provide instantaneous, personalized and contextual experiences to everyone who purchases, uses or interacts with everyday consumer goods.

Modular design and innovative card delivery features enable société de l'assurance automobile du Québec to cost-effectively deliver cards to Quebec citizens.

Datacard Group announced the award of a competitive tender from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec to upgrade to the Datacard® MXD™ Card Delivery System and MXi™ Envelope Insertion System for enhanced card delivery and mailing for its driver's license and identification cards.

SAAQ has been a customer of Datacard Group since 2002 and mails nearly 1.8 million driver's license and identification cards to the citizens of Québec per year.  They decided to upgrade their card delivery system to provide a more enhanced automated mailing system.  With the integrated MXD card delivery system and the MXi envelope insertion system, SAAQ can now create custom, ready-to-mail card carriers for all of their driver's license and ID cards.

Identification Systems Group (ISG) is pleased to announce that its strategic partners – Datacard Group and Salamander Technologies – have completed the integration of Salamander's resourceMGR credentialing software with the Datacard CD800 desktop card printer to drive one-pass smart card encoding and print personalization.

resourceMGR is part of Salamander's interTRAX suite of incident management solutions for identifying and tracking first responders and industrial safety workers. Salamander now employs highly secure and reliable smart card tracking across its entire product line from ID card creation to data capture in the field – including use of the new Motorola MC75 HF RFID mobile computer. The interTRAX suite offers an open provisioning model to simplify and streamline the use of smart cards for personnel accountability and site security.

First in Series of New Application Documents Helps Developers Leverage Both Technologies to Benefit Consumers

The NFC Forum, a non-profit industry association that advances the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the trade association responsible for the development, promotion and protection of the Bluetooth specification, announced the publication of Bluetooth Secure Simple Pairing Using NFC. The new document provides developers with examples of how to implement Bluetooth Secure Simple Pairing (SSP) using NFC to take maximum advantage of both technologies when they are present in the same device. The publication is available for free download.