GREENSBORO, NC, March 31, 2003–Gilbarco Veeder-Root, http://www.gilbarco.com, retrofitted the nation’s first gasoline dispensers to accept MasterCard® PayPass “contactless” payment cards in late February. Working with MasterCard, Chevron, and Panasonic, the first four sites now accept the new MasterCard payment card that eliminates the need for swiping the card through a reader. Consumers simply tap or wave their payment card at the reader.

Technology Excellence, Market Savvy and Strong Partner Orientation Puts Hypercom Above All Others

WOKING, England, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/–Visa EU (European Union) and CEMEA (Central Europe, Middle East and Africa) have awarded global payment technology leader Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC) the prestigious Visa Chip Vendor of the Year Award for 2003. Visa EU and CEMEA cited Hypercom’s strong and unwavering commitment to technology excellence and its rigorous, on-going strategy and ability above all others to provide smart, fast, easy-use payment terminals and technology that meet the most demanding EMV standards.

ActivCard Will Deliver New ActivCard Gold for CAC PKI 3.0 to the U.S. Army Set-D With Advanced Management Capabilities, Enabling Reduced Total Cost of Ownership

FREMONT, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/–ActivCard® (Nasdaq: ACTI; Nasdaq Europe: ACTI), the leader in IDentity Management (IDM) software, today announced that it will be the primary identity management provider for Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT) for the U.S. Army’s Common Access Card (CAC) program. A task order was awarded to Northrop Grumman IT to provide $9 million of smart card middleware for the CAC program.

ST increases its system know-how for smart cards with the acquisition of e-purse pioneer and multi-application smart card developer Proton World International

Geneva, March 25, 2003–STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), the world’s second largest supplier of smart card chips, today announced the acquisition of Proton World International (PWI), a leading smart card software company that specializes in high-security, payment and identification smart card systems and has developed an extensive network throughout the financial services and banking sectors.

March 26, 2003–ERG Group of Australia (ERG) today announced it has finalised an agreement with micro-chip manufacturer STMicroelectronics (ST) for the sale of ERG’s 100% interest in Belgian-based Proton World (PW). Pursuant to the transaction, ST will grant ERG global rights to use the Proton technologies in ERG’s transit smart card systems for 20 years through a licence agreement. In addition, ERG will retain exclusive access to a short-list of nominated transit customers for a five-year term.

SAN DIEGO & WASHINGTON, (BUSINESS WIRE), March 17, 2003–Cubic Transportation Systems Inc., a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic Corp. (AMEX:CUB), and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) have completed final tests of the new smart-card-enabled fare processing system for Washington Metro area buses.

FREMONT, Calif., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/–SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCMM; Prime Standard: SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced that its SPRx32 smart card readers have been certified for Common Criteria EAL (Evaluation Assurance Level) 3+. The SPRx32 is a network-ready device that combines a smart card interface with a PIN pad. This marks the first time a smart card/PIN pad reader has achieved EAL3+ certification, meeting the industry’s highest and most stringent security requirements.

Acquired systems and expertise expand Datacard’s position as leader in smart card issuance

Minnetonka, Minn., March 17, 2003–Datacard Group today announced it has completed the acquisition of assets from Gilles Leroux S.A., a French manufacturer of plastic card production, control and personalization systems and leading supplier of solutions to the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) smart card market. Datacard was awarded the right to purchase the Gilles Leroux assets in June 2002 by the Commercial Court of Orleans, France, which was overseeing Gilles Leroux since the company’s bankruptcy filing last year.

Acquired systems and expertise expand Datacard’s position as leader in smart card issuance

Minnetonka, Minn., March 17, 2003–Datacard Group today announced it has completed the acquisition of assets from Gilles Leroux S.A., a French manufacturer of plastic card production, control and personalization systems and leading supplier of solutions to the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) smart card market. Datacard was awarded the right to purchase the Gilles Leroux assets in June 2002 by the Commercial Court of Orleans, France, which was overseeing Gilles Leroux since the company’s bankruptcy filing last year.

Smart Card Costs Lowered by 33 Percent

Singapore, March 14, 2003–MasterCard International today announced that a number of technology vendors will be supplying smart cards in support of its new US$1.99 multiapplication smart card program. MasterCard’s US$1.99 smart card program is part of its overall OneSMART MasterCard strategy to provide members with greater technology choices, support and critical flexibility they need to launch a successful smart card program. With the support of these leading vendors, MasterCard will further accelerate the migration of payment cards to multi-application smart cards in Asia/Pacific and worldwide.