Oberthur Technologies Delivers the European Union's First Prepaid Contactless Visa Card to Italian Banca Popolare di Sondrio

Oberthur Technologies Delivers the European Union's First Prepaid Contactless
Visa Card to Italian Banca Popolare di Sondrio

PARIS, November 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oberthur Technologies, a
world leader in prepaid and contactless payment technologies has delivered
the European Union's first prepaid Visa contactless card for the Banca
Popolare di Sondrio in Italy.
The "Carta di Ateneo" is an innovative dual interface payment card that
combines Visa-certified contactless and EMV payment as well as access control
and personal identification features.
Issued in conjunction with KCCS Key Client Card and Solutions (ICBPI
Group), the card will be used by students and faculty employees of two
Milanese learning institutions, the Politecnico di Milano and the University
of Milan Bicocca.
Representing Oberthur Technologies' state-of-the-art multi-application
solutions for payment cards, the university card is a Cosmo Fly product, the
fastest dual interface Java card in the market to-date. The card provides
identity features, with the student's personal data and photo printed on the
card. Access to university buildings is managed using the card's magnetic
stripe and embedded chip. Physical access can be automatically approved or
limited to different rooms of the university, such as laboratories, libraries
or classrooms. The card can also be used to record student attendance at
exams, classes and seminars, as well as provide access to internet and
university web services.
The Carta di Ateneo is a reloadable prepaid card, with a Visa contactless
prepaid payment application that enables the cardholder to make retail and
online purchases as well as ATM cash withdrawals. Cardholders can make
contactless purchases of up to 15 euros, simply by passing the card in front
of a contactless terminal. For larger purchases, the card's EMV interface is
used with either the cardholder's PIN or signature. More than 300 merchants
within the vicinity of the university campuses will provide contactless point
of sales terminals to accept the card.
"Oberthur Technologies provided us with a combined technology solution
that encompasses contactless, EMV and prepaid technologies" comments Mr.
Mario Alberto Pedranzini, CEO of the Banca Popolare di Sondrio "and the Carta
di Ateneo will also give cardholders access to a wide range of university
services and resources as well."
"The emergence of prepaid and contactless cards in Europe gives European
issuers many new opportunities to target new customers and expand their
programs," comments Eric Duforest, Managing Director Europe for the, Card
Systems Division at Oberthur Technologies. "By delivering the European
Union's first prepaid contactless Visa card, Oberthur Technologies aims to
reinforce its leadership position as the number one provider of contactless
cards globally.
Distribution of the card began in September to university students and
staff. The project is also likely to be expanded to include the other
Milanese universities.
About Oberthur Technologies
With sales of 882 million Euros in 2008, Oberthur Technologies is a world
leader in the field of secure technologies. Innovation and high quality
services ensure Oberthur Technologies' strong positioning in its main target
markets:
- Card Systems: The world's second largest provider of security
and identification based on smart card technology and associated
services for mobile, payment, transport, digital TV and convergence
markets.

- Identity: Leading international supplier for the manufacture and
personalization of secure identity documents such as passport, identity
card, driving license or health care card - traditional and electronic
- and associated services for both governmental and corporate markets.

- Security printing: World's third largest private security printer
specialized in high security for the production of banknotes, checks
and other fiduciary documents in more than fifty countries.

- Cash protection: World leader in the emerging market of
intelligent systems to secure cash-in-transit and ATM.

Close to its customers, Oberthur Technologies benefits from an industrial
and commercial presence across all five continents.
Oberthur Technologies S.A. is a limited liability company (societe
anonyme) registered in France with its registered office at 50 quai Michelet
92 532 Levallois Perret, France. Oberthur Technologies S.A.'s corporate
registration number is 340 709 534 R.C.S. Paris.
Website: http://www.oberthur.com
SOURCE Oberthur Technologies

Oberthur Technologies: Matthew Stroud, Press Contact, Telephone:
+33-1-47-85-58-06, Email: m.stroud@oberthur.com