Contactless/RFID
Smart cards have two different types of interfaces: contact and contactless.
Contactless smart cards use radio frequency (RF) technology to interact with a reader. Each card has an antenna embedded inside the card that enables communication with the reader without physical contact.
The market for these cards is growing rapidly because of the obvious benefits of ease of use, speed and versatility. USC is well placed to help you source these products creating tremendous new opportunities for issuers.
Popular applications are not limited to but include public transport for fare payment, access control, cashless vending, parking, loyalty, electronic purse, gambling, road toll, student, employee IDs in government and corporate environments, e-passports and other secure travel documents, and cards for cashless payment.
List of Key Manufacturers Cards that we sell, please click for products available
Generally contactless or proximity cards fall into three general classifications such as:
- Low Frequencies : below 150 kHz (read only) EM4102, HID, Hi-Tag etc
- Smart Contactless Frequency : 13,56 MHz (Multi-Application technology) Mifare, Legic, Icode, etc
- Microwave Frequencies : 2,45GHz (Long reading distance) EM4122, Ucode etc
USC supply all these varying classifications of cards from the most popular silicon providers such as IC's from Atmel, EM Microelectronic, Infineon Technologies, LEGIC Identsystems, Microchip, NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors), STMicroelectronics. Additional form factors such as modules, inlays, key-rings, and labels are also available.
Universal also carries high stock holdings of the more popular contactless cards including the NXP (Philips) and Infineon Mifare 1k, Mifare 4k, Desfire, EM4102 range. Full availability is on request but normally we can offer a next day delivery service.
