STMicroelectronics launches IC for next-gen Calypso cards
04 August, 2011
category: Contactless, Transit
STMicroelectronics has unveiled a new secure IC chip for the latest version the Calypso ticketing open standard.
With the support of ST’s CD21-Rev3 solution, the Calypso Revision 3 standard enables operators to offer contactless transit cards with extra services such as an e-purse, loyalty rewards or USB key.
According to ST, the EMV-compliant solution is the only Calypso Revision 3 solution produced by a non-card issuer, allowing independent developers to create and implement applications outside of standard ticketing.
The chip is also backwards compatible with existing Calypso readers, which ST says will aid in the rapid roll out of the new solution.
The Calypso ticketing open standard was developed by a consortium of European operators to suit public transportation and other ticketing uses. More than 80 networks in 21 countries currently use some 52 million cards based on Calypso.