Executive Director's Letter

Dear members and friends of the Alliance,

September's sense of urgency has replaced August's relative tranquility in a major way. However, the flurry of activity around the Labor Day weekend was a wake-up call that the summer season is over and now it's time to move from cruising speed to warp speed overnight. Is it just me, or does this happen to everyone else also?

For starters, September marks a new fiscal year for the Alliance and with it, the planning for the next 12 months along with the usual kick-off event, the Fall Annual Conference on October 18-20, 2004. Although the planning committee has been working hard throughout the summer to make this year's event successful, it is now crunch time to coordinate all of the pieces and bring the industry together in San Francisco for a memorable event. This year's conference theme is "Evolution through Innovation." Highlights will include Richard Clarke, author and nationally known anti-terrorism advisor to the last four presidents of the United States, delivering the keynote address plus two executive-level panels covering "State of the Markets" and "State of the Industry."

Insert your company logo and text ad here and reach more than 5,500 smart card professionals each month. Email info@smartcardalliance.org for details.

Member Profile

Smart Card Talk spoke with Mike Weekes, Associate Partner, IBM Global Services' Global Smart Card Solutions and Smart Card Alliance Board Member. In his ten-year involvement with smart card and related technology, Mike Weekes' work has included payment systems, authentication systems, digital ID, smart card management and other multi-application chip projects. Mike leads IBM's participation with Visa International's "Visa Smart Vendor" program as well as the MasterCard International, "MVP," vendor initiatives. He is IBM's principal member and on the Board of Directors of the Smart Card Alliance. He and his team are also full members of GlobalPlatform and regular contributors to GlobalPlatform initiatives and specifications.

What are IBM Global Services' main business profile and offerings?

The world's largest information technology services and consulting provider, IBM Global Services generated record revenue and signings in 2003 of $42.6 billion and $55.5 billion, respectively. Some 180,000 professionals in more than 160 countries help clients integrate information technology with business value - from the business transformation and industry expertise of IBM Business Consulting Services to hosting, infrastructure, technology design and training services.

Feature of the Month

Transit Smart Cards: Paying on the Go

Virtually all transit fare payment systems in the delivery and procurement stages worldwide use contactless smart cards as the primary ticket medium. This article describes the current and planned U.S. transit agency smart card programs and discusses that benefits that smart card technology delivers for transit fare payment.

Included with the article is a detailed table describing the major smart card-enabled fare collection and ticketing projects underway in North America.

Smart Card Talk is the monthly electronic newsletter of the world's largest smart card industry organization, providing members with the latest news and information about what's happening within the Smart Card Alliance. If you have news you would like to share, please send it to info@smartcardalliance.org. If you know someone who does not receive this newsletter and would like to be added to the list, please send an email here.

Copyright 2004-2005 · Smart Card Alliance · 191 Clarksville Rd. · Princeton Junction, NJ 08550
Phone: (800) 556-6828 info@smartcardalliance.org · www.smartcardalliance.org