 "New SCM Smartcard Readers To Enhance Online Security")
SCM Microsystems, a provider of solutions for secure access, identity and exchange, is expanding its smartcard reader product family with three new models that bring in portable, personal devices. The new handheld, USB or Near Field Communication (NFC) connected readers are designed to be carried - on key rings, in pockets or purses - and used every day with contact or contactless smartcards, regardless of technology or manufacturer. In many instances, users insert the card and leave it in the reader - leaving them with a single, small device for all smartcard-related needs.
Smartcards are being used worldwide to secure identities in many applications, such as bank payment cards, employee access badges, government identity cards and healthcare IDs. SCM’s new readers enable cardholders to use their smartcards anytime, anywhere with PCs, the Internet or other terminals. Many models allow physical access to buildings, too. Cardholders can use the reader to pay more securely or to authenticate their network identities with banks, employers, government agencies, or healthcare providers.
“Our new readers address two important market drivers that are at the core of our strategy, the growth of contactless technology and the convergence of physical access and IT security systems,” said Felix Marx, chief executive officer of SCM Microsystems. “Organisations making large-scale deployments need to provide their end users with ways to use smartcards for secure physical entry, as well as with PCs and over the Internet at home, at work or at school. We engineered these personal smartcard readers to fill that gap.”
The new smartcard readers are the SCR3500 SmartFold, the SCT3511 and the @MAXX lite. SCM will make them available in August through both OEM and distribution channels.
SCR3500 SmartFold: portable contact smartcard reader
The SCR3500 SmartFold is a small, portable contact smartcard reader. With this tool, online services can be accessed and payments can be made from anywhere, with full protection from password stealing spyware. The reader is unfolded and inserted into a free USB port of a notebook. Then, the smartcard in ID-1 (credit card) format is inserted into the reader to enable secure access to bank accounts, online payments, Web services or company information systems.
SCT3511: contact and contactless USB token
The SCT3511 is a USB token with both contact and ISO 14443 and MIFARE contactless capabilities. It acts as a contact reader for ID-000 (SIM card format) smartcards, and has an antenna for use with a dual interface contact/ contactless smartcard that supports an antenna connection. This device is ideal for contactless payment and ticketing applications. Additionally, it is used for converged physical and logical access control in the enterprise. At work, with the smartcard inserted, it is used for secure logon to networks or PCs using a PKI digital identity certificate. It can also be used for more secure physical access to the building instead of the usual employee badge.
@MAXX lite: contact/ contactless USB token with integrated Flash memory
@MAXX lite is the newest addition to SCM’s innovative @MAXX family of products. Like the SCT3511, @MAXX lite is a token with both contact and contactless smartcard-based functionalities. It adds on-board Flash memory for secure storage of sensitive data. With a smartcard in PC-connected mode, @MAXX lite encrypts data on a hard disk and the onboard Flash memory, and protects access by requiring a PIN entry. Other uses include contactless payment, ticketing applications, secure logon to PCs and networks with a digital identity certificate, storing encrypted and PIN protected logins and passwords in the smartcard or Flash, or filling Web forms using securely stored personal information.