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