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This “Tellcard” is an early European smart card, built by Bull CP8. A 1985 prototype for a electronic travellers cheque card, also developed by Bull CP8. An introduction to smart cards For decades, magnetic stripe cards have been used in a variety of applications involving small amounts of identification data. These magnetic cards have become the norm in applications such as credit and key cards, to name just two. However, they have many drawbacks and will eventually be replaced by a new technology. By SAMMY ISREB The system that will most likely replace magnetic stripe cards is the newer smart card technology. A smart card is similar in appearance to a conventional magnetic card but that is where the similarities end. Unlike a conventional card, a standard smart card contains a CPU (central processing unit) and associat­ ed memory. Because this setup offers read/write capabilities, new information can be added, removed, or processed as needed. An average smart card on the market today contains an 8-bit 5MHz microprocessor, 8K bytes of ROM, 288 bytes of RAM and up to 16K bytes of EEPROM, all fabricated using CMOS technology. 4  Silicon Chip Physically, smart cards have the same dimensions as stan­ dard magnetic stripe cards but have from six to eight gold I/O contacts along the top lefthand corner. These I/O contacts are used in conjunction with a compatible smart card reader to trans­fer data. Hidden under the gold contacts is a single IC, contain­ing the entire CPU and memory contents of the smart card. Possibly the greatest feature of smart cards, apart from their high data storage capabilities, is the fact that they are very secure against unauthorised data reading/writing. On the simplest level, they are much more secure than magnetic stripe cards, as the data is stored inside the card on board an IC and not on the surface where it can easily be read as is the case with magnetic stripe cards. On a more sophisticated level, the fact that a CPU is on­board allows en­ cryption methods to be employed in order to protect sensitive data. And because both the memory and the CPU are on a single IC, it is not possible to “spy” on the data lines that would otherwise be used to connect two or more chips. All these features, along with the fact that most smart cards will destruct when their plastic casing is removed, makes them very secure indeed. The main drawback of smart cards (one that will not be solved in the immediate future) is their relatively high price. A magnetic stripe card can be manufactured for around $1, whereas an average smart card can cost from $15-25. Top-of-the-range cards can cost many times more, however. Until this cost barrier is overcome, magnetic cards will continue to domi­nate the market. Memory cards For some applications that do not require the complexity of a CPU, memory cards are available. These are composed solely of a memory chip, An electronic travellers cheque card from Thomas Cook Financial Services. usually a form of EEPROM or non-volatile RAM. These cards do not have the security of a fully-fledged smart card but are quite adequate for all forms of prepaid value cards, such as telephone or stored value cash cards. Contact or contactless? As already mentioned, most smart cards have a number of power and I/O contacts on their surface that allow interaction with a card reader. The number and arrangement of these contacts varies, depending on the type of card. This setup does have one drawback, however – the card must be inserted into the card reader each time it is used. To solve this problem, contactless smart cards have been developed that can communicate with the card reader by radio. The cards receive power from a 125kHz incident magnetic field A stored value telephone smart card, which began operation in France in 1983. gener­ated by the card reader (along with timing information), which also is used for data transfer at rates up to 19.2Kb/s. Typical contactless smart cards contain an IC which consists of a CPU, ROM, EEPROM and either 128 bytes or 512 bytes of non-vola­tile ferro­ e lectric RAM. A single coil, located inside the card, is used for data transmission, reception and inductive power pickup. Contactless smart cards have a range of about 10cm to 1m, depending on the card and the type of reader being used. Most systems also have the ability to simultaneously accept multiple cards in the reading area without data interference between the units. A less sophisticated version of the contactless smart card does away with the need to obtain its power inductively from the card reader’s Fig.1: block diagram of Hitachi’s H8/3102 Smart Card. magnetic field. Instead, it uses a wafer-thin battery inside the card. This has two disadvantages in that the card is slightly thicker than normal and the card must be re­placed every few years because the battery eventually goes flat. The advantage is extended range – up to 10 metres in some cases. Full or mini-size? Although most smart cards are the same size as standard “credit cards”, mini smart cards have gained popularity in appli­cations where size is critical. These cards are identical in operation to the standard smart cards but are much smaller. They are designed for applications where the card is to be left in a device for long periods of time and where size is crucial, such as in lightweight GSM phones. Uses of smart cards Because of their incredible versatility, smart cards alrea­dy have a wide (and growing) range of applications. In Australia at the current time, probably their largest public use is in the SIM cards for the GSM digital phones. These cards are supplied by the network provider, such as Telstra or Optus, and contain the owner’s account information. By using the card in any digital phone with the same sized slot, the owner can retain his/her phone number and account details, regardless of the phone is being used. In some countries, banks are replacing their magnetic stripe cards with smart cards. However, because of the relatively high cost of smart cards, the transition period will be quite lengthy. In Australia, the infrastructure for such a move is not yet in place. October 1996  5 could get rid of the wad of plastic now found in most people’s wallets. Choosing a system A screen capture from the Smart Card Cyber Show world wide web page. This web site, http://cardshow.com/index.html, is great for those interested in implementing smart cards in their business. However, during the next decade or so, it is quite possible that the switch to smart cards will occur. In some parts of Australia, companies are already trailing various types of stored value smart cards. When these cards are bought, they contain a fixed cash value, which is diminished when purchases are made. When the card is exhausted, it can be “re­charged” at a bank. This type of system may even do away with the need for cash in the future. One of the most exciting possibilities is the development of smart cards that combine a number of applications. Because of their high storage capabilities, it’s possible to make a smart card that’s a bank card, a SIM GSM mobile phone card and a stored value cash card all in one, with a good many other applications thrown in as well. This For those keen business people out there who currently employ magnetic cards for their customers, a switch to a smart card system may not only be feasible but may end up being more profitable in the long run. The first step is to identify which of the advantages of smart cards will make their use worthwhile. It could be their extra security features, their increased memory capacity, or their inbuilt CPU. If smart cards are a likely option, a combination of a smart card system and suitable reader must be found. Searching “smart cards” on the Inter­ net will reveal a list of manufacturers and suppliers who can be contacted to arrange a system that best suits your needs. Alternatively, a Smart Card Cyber Show world wide web page has been set up at web site http:// cardshow.com/index.html. Conclusion Smart cards will be one of the most exciting technologies to watch in the next decade. When fully implemented, they have the chance to make our lives simpler, more efficient and more secure. However, there is still some way to go before smart cards replace magnetic stripe cards. Until then, watch as your magnetic cards start SC disappearing, one by one. TIMELINE OF EARLY SMART CARD DEVELOPMENT 1974: the world’s first memory card developed. This consisted of a chip housed in an epoxy board and was developed by CII-Honeywell Bull. 1980: first Philips smart card developed. Contained two separate ICs: one microcontroller IC and one mem­ory IC. 1975: the first memory card in a “credit card” format, with the chip and its contacts on one side. This card was designed by CII-Honeywell Bull. 1981: first true smart card using a single IC for the microcon­troller and memory, developed by Bull CP8. First smart card cash payment system trials in a small European town. 1977: world leader in smart card technology, Bull CP8, formed from CII-Honeywell Bull. 1983: first smart card payphone system established in France. 1989: Thomas Cook experiments with the use of a smart card as an electronic travellers cheque. ISO standard 7816-3 concerning the electrical characteristics and exchange protocols relating to smart cards set up. 1987: several International Banks consider introducing smart cards. ISO Standard 7816-1 concerning the physical characteris­tics of smart cards set up. 1990 onwards: proliferation of smart card technology begins. However, it is slow to take off in Australia, except for the GSM digital mobile phone area. 1979: first microprocessor card (twochip) designed by Bull CP8. This card used a Motorola 3870 micro­controller and a 2716 EPROM. 6  Silicon Chip 1988: Midland bank introduces smart cards to its customers. ISO Standard 7816-2, concerning the role and position of smart card electrical contacts, is set up.