Walluf and Linz - ACG Identification Technologies, a leading component and technology supplier in the smart card and RFID markets, and OMNIKEY, one of the world¹s leading manufacturers of innovative smart card readers, announce today their cooperation to develop e-passport RFID readers. The new readers are designed to support federal governments and the security industry in deploying interoperable border control solutions based on contactless electronic passports, as specified by ICAO.

The project will see ACG contribute its unique command of RFID hardware technology - including profound expertise in the design of e-passport reader modules - and OMNIKEY provide its outstanding competence in flexible, high speed and interoperable card readers for seamless integration into logical access control systems.

RFID readers used for identity authentication of travelers in border control applications are sophisticated data collection devices that must adhere to the main international standard for contactless chips and readers, ISO 14443, and to ICAO¹s specifications for logical data structure. In order to quickly process high volumes of travelers transiting through international airports and other Points of Entry, e-passport readers must guarantee high data transfer rates and broad interoperability with travel documents from all suppliers.

In this respect, ACG¹s recently launched HF Dual ISO Reader has already demonstrated its superiority in recent interoperability tests carried out by Australia¹s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In fact, ACG¹s e-passport reader was rated number one in terms of interoperability out of the 11 readers tested and ranked among the fastest in terms of speed of transmission.

OMNIKEY¹s readers support standardized PC/SC drivers for all major operating systems. All readers of the very broad portfolio offered by OMNIKEY have been perfected for optimum interoperability. They comply with the latest industry standards and are designed to support any card or credential for any application on any computer.

About ACG ACG Identification Technologies is an independent component and technology supplier serving the entire value chain of smart card and RFID-based systems. Headquartered in Walluf (Germany), ACG has 21 locations throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

About OMNIKEY OMNIKEY, one of the world¹s leading manufacturers of innovative smart card readers, offers the most diversified product portfolio available on the market today. Having established a tight collaboration with key decision makers in the card manufacturing and software industries, OMNIKEY sits at the table of innovation. OMNIKEY¹s smart card readers for PCs can be utilized by any application including logical access control, digital signature, GSM authentication, secure banking and online transactions, loyalty programs, and healthcare solutions.

OMNIKEY, headquartered in Walluf, near Wiesbaden (Germany), is part of the ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group (ITG). OMNIKEY´s North American headquarters reside in Irvine, California with technical support in Atlanta, Georgia. The Asia Pacific operation is located in Hong Kong. Design, production management, and quality control of OMNIKEY¹s products are carried out in the company¹s two R&D centers in Linz, Austria and Erfurt, Germany. OMNIKEY readers are distributed worldwide through a global network of partners, including value added resellers, system integrators, and OEMs.