Microprocessor cards

Microprocessor cards have a complete computing structure with a main memory, an operating system and a computing unit. They are often called "smart cards" or "chip cards".

Current types of smart card available (selection):

Chip	EEPROM	Operating system	Developer manufacturer of OS
SLE66CX322	32 KByte	CardOS 4.3b	Infineon
SLE66CX322	32 KByte	TCOS 2.0 3	Telesec
P8WE5032	32 KByte	STARCOS SPK 2.4	Giesecke & Devrient
P5CT072	72 KByte	JCOP	IBM
SLE88CX640	64 KByte	CardOS	Infineon

The main applications for these microprocessor cards until now have been charge cards, access cards for PayTV or the GSM card in mobile phones. In future, health insurance cards and credit cards will also be fitted with a processor. Cryptoprocessors are also increasing in importance for IT security (access protection) and for local PKI, as well as public PKI solutions (digital signatures). One characteristic of processor cards is that the operating system is a fixed element of the product. The only changes which can be made later are initialisation and personalisation with individual data.

Plasticard-ZFT produces smart cards with all (non-proprietary) processor types and operating systems. Processor cards can also include contactless chips such as MIFARE, Legic or Hitag. Dual interface cards are a special case, as they can work both as contact chip cards and as RFID cards.

You can find further information on this subject under ID cards, RFID cards, and in the customer area.

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