Smart Citizens' Research and Briefing

The future of smart cards, and their likely effects on us good or bad, is to form the basis of an intriguing half-day seminar from Logica Consulting and Teleconomy. To be held in London on the 2nd May, the session promises to reveal useful new research on consumer behaviour.

The topic is both timely and controversial. The government has recently announced it is to sound out public opinion on the introduction of a national identity card. This has been mooted as a way to help combat benefit fraud, illegal immigration and terrorist activity. While the Home Office stresses that it is not yet committed to such a scheme - and insists that even if one were introduced then carrying a card would not be compulsory - the introduction of some kind of scheme based on 'smart card' technology is likely.

At the same time, more commercial applications of smart card technology are in the pipeline. This includes the recently announced plan by Europay, MasterCard and Visa to make all credit and debit cards 'smart' by January 2005. Under this scheme, new cards will include a gold panel with an embedded computer chip capable of holding 80 times more data than current magnetic strip cards. The chip also adds increased processing capability to the card and allows customisation.

As with government, one of the key benefits of smart cards to financial institutions is the enhanced security features that can be accommodated to reduce fraud. For retailers, the issues centre more on cost and liability. When the changeover to smart credit cards is complete, the liability for fraud, currently borne by the card issuers, will pass to the retailer. As a smart card is read by a reader rather than swiped like a magnetic strip, retail outlets will also need to upgrade their point-of-sale terminals to accommodate the new cards.

The business briefing will attempt to cover the territory as it appears today. The morning will be structured as:

• Session 1: Logica: Introduction to the strategic options of smart cards.
  
• Session 2: Teleconomy: Presentation of research findings into consumer attitudes towards smart cards.
  
• Session 3: The market: Case studies of smart cards applications.
  
• Session 4: Next steps: What options are available to address smart card opportunities. Initial introduction followed by panel discussion.

More details of this and the full research report are available at www.teleconomy.co.uk

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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