IMS Research is predicting that 1 billion smart cards will be shipped per year by 2014, according to Cellular-News. IMS revealed that between 2008 and 2014, the market for smart cards is expected to double, with smaller schemes employing microcontroller-based cards leading the way, such as driver licenses, health care, national ID and e-passports.
Smart card use in the transportation sector is also set to boom, with applications in electronic ticketing, parking payment and toll collection gaining traction.
Most promising of all is the banking and payments sector. Banks have been actively promoting smart cards and point of sale terminals in key market areas, resulting in increased awareness and acceptance among consumers and retailers.
On the other hand, contactless NFC mobile payment, hindered by lack of a common certification standard, will not see major shipment until 2012, but with Nokia, Mastercard and Visa all as backers, it’s only a matter of time before the technology catches up with its peers.
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