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Dear members and friends of the Alliance,
Attempting to create something unique when planning a conference is no simple task. We are all familiar with the typical formula ... sitting in a cramped room watching the parade of talking heads flip through slide after slide, counting the minutes until the next food break. Even when you get to listen to someone who is really original or entertaining, there is no assurance that you will find any other hidden gems on the agenda. The Alliance will break that mold at its upcoming 3rd Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference in March.
We are planning to make this government-focused event different than any other conference. To begin, we are not trying to be an "everything for everybody" event. Rather, we have a narrowly defined topic and a small exhibit area so we can focus on what really matters. We are keeping it to only 2 days, so not to make it too long. The biggest change is that we are going to use an ALL PANELS - ROUNDTABLE format for most sessions. Rather than have a single speaker give a 30 - 45 minute presentation, we are going to put together a panel of speakers and a moderator for each session. Each panelist will give a short, introductory commentary followed by an extended question and answer session led by the moderator. The audience will be invited to ask questions as well. This will give everyone in attendance the opportunity to challenge the panelists to discuss the issues that they want to talk about and that are most important to them. Because not everybody is comfortable standing up in the audience asking questions of the speakers, we will accept attendee questions in advance and take written questions from the conference floor. We may not make you forget entirely about when that next break is coming, but I can guarantee it will be different than any other conference you attend this year. Finally, we have lowered the price to make it affordable so that every interested person can attend. The issues presented here impact every aspect of the smart card industry. Come see for yourself - AND BRING A FRIEND!
Our Smart Card Alliance Web Store is now open for business. The white papers that have become so popular and attracted a world-wide audience are no longer available for free downloads unless you are an Alliance member. We have added an executive summary of each report on the public web site and provide a link to a secure online merchant site where individuals can purchase the reports and immediately download them electronically. If you have not yet read each of these excellent reports, I would encourage you to do so. We have also made available CD-ROM sets of past conferences that can be purchased online for immediate shipment anywhere in the world. In the future, we will add SCA logo merchandise that can be ordered online as well. Amazon.com look out!
A final note about the business side (my least favorite topic) of the Smart Card Alliance. This last comment is for you former members or interested followers who receive this newsletter but are not members. As great as the Alliance's turnaround has been--from the "social club" days of a few years ago into the current productive, market-changing organization--we still face financial challenges. Our membership numbers shrank during those transitional years and the accompanying recession and have not yet recovered to where they need to be for us to continue to support all the important efforts to achieve our mission to "accelerate the adoption of smart cards in North America." I have spoken with many of you about becoming an Alliance member. I truly appreciate your compliments for the job we are doing and what the Alliance has become. Now, I am asking you to again consider making the investment in time and resources to becoming a member.
Randy
Vanderhoof
Executive Director
Smart Card Alliance
rvanderhoof@smartcardalliance.org
Each week the
latest news, press releases, and articles are made available
at your Alliance web site. To include your company's articles,
news, and releases in this great industry resource, send electronic
submissions to news@smartcardalliance.org.
Click on the headline to read the full text of these articles–currently
"showing" at the Alliance site.
Each month,
the international smart card associations who are members
of the ISCAN network share smart card industry news with the
Smart Card Alliance. Below are some of the highlights from
recent ISCAN member newsletters.
UK TESTING ID SMART CARDS
The UK government has taken its first tentative step towards implementing its controversial compulsory identity card scheme. December 1st saw the launch of a trial of biometric technology involving 10, 000 volunteers. The six-month trial run by the UK Passport Service (UKPS) will test facial, iris and fingerprint recording and recognition.
................ Source: Smart Card Society of Southern Africa, December 2003
EMV ROAD MAP IN CHINA
On December 17, 2003, the Department of Science and Technology of the People’s Bank of China-PBOC organized "China Strategic Seminar on the International EMV Migration for the Bankcard." The dates for completion of the EMV migration (in China) will be 2006 in Beijing and 2007 in Shanghai.
................ Source: Smart Card Forum of China News, January 2004
CHINA FORECASTS 500 MILLION SMART CARDS IN 2004
The Ministry of Information released a report on the annual market for smart cards in China, forecasting 500 million cards to be rolled out in 2004. SIM cards will account for over 70% of the total market share in China. The next large growth of smart cards will come from bankcards and a new generation of national ID cards scheduled to begin trial issuance this month.
................ Source: Smart Card Forum of China News, January 2004
EUROSMART ANNOUNCES ACTIVITIES FOR 2004
Eurosmart has announced that its plans for 2004 will include: issuing figures on terminal manufacturing; optimizing security efficiency in term of assurance, methodology & cost; cooperating on security certification and evaluation; monitoring EU and national initiatives such as eGovernment, ID cards, and driving licenses; and sponsoring international smart card exhibitions.
................ Source: Eurosmart.com, January 2004
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