ASK indicated the new financing to strengthen its R&D efforts and to take advantage of new market opportunities, mainly in the banking and identity document areas. In October 2002, Ask closed a round of financing of $15.8 million from a variety of investors.

ASK, founded in 1997, is a provider of contactless products with a market that includes more than 50 countries. ASK reported sales of 30.5 million euros ($43.1 million) in 2007.