Global Industry Analysts Inc. released a report forecasting the outlook on the global smart card market to reach 10.9 billion units by 2015.

GIA credits the growth driven largely by major initiatives in the financial, government and security sectors, with the telecom sector at the way ahead of the pack as the largest end-user. Increasing usage of contactless technology, newer applications and mandatory EMV migration across countries are also major drivers boosting the global market for smart cards. 

Thinking of changing your mag stripe campus ID card to contactless? Campus card provider CBORD may be able to help. The company is offering a free webinar March 27 that will enable participants to learn the latest about contactless credentials for colleges and universities.

The webinar will review the variety of contactless options available and discuss considerations for implementation. Plus, two CBORD customers, who have already transitioned to contactless, will share their stories and answer questions. 

Digital security provider Gemalto has launched Dexxis EMV instant issuance card product, designed to streamline and speed up banks’ migration to EMV by bringing card issuance processes in-house.

Dexxis EMV enables banks to issue and activate initial and replacement cards immediately on site by securely encoding the smart card chips and mag stripes, as well as allowing for plastic printing or embossing. Because it has the necessary data processing and key management capabilities, Dexxis allows banks to seamlessly transition to EMV-compliant smart cards. 

BadgePass and Digital Identification Solutions have integrated BadgePass’s Identity Manager credentialing software with Digital’s EDIsecure XID 8300 Retransfer Printer for single step smart card encoding and card issuance.

Identity Manager is part of the BadgePass suite of security solutions that also includes Visitor Manager, Access Control and SmartReg. In Identity Manager, one can enroll user information and capture photos while also adding card information like card number and access privileges. 

India transport operator Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd. has launched a smart transit card for commuters traveling on the region’s bus system, according to ISO&Agent.

The agency began a six-month trial and August 2010 followed by a soft and silent launch in January 2012. The card is available now for a nonrefundable fee of 25 rupees ($.50 US cents) and allows commuters to travel for up to 100 minutes on one bus, for the minimum fare. 

Collis announced the launch of a complete terminal test suite for the U.S. and Canadian markets, the Collis Merchant Test Suite.

The software modules comprising the Collis Merchant Test Suite – Collis Brand Test Tool and Collis Card Simulator – are combined to offer an all-in-one EMV contact and contactless solution for merchants, processors and acquirers that are involved in the development, testing and deployment of acceptance devices. 

VingCard Elsafe, provider of hospitality security and part of ASSA ABLOY Group, has been selected by Grand Hyatt San Francisco to provide a complete package of VingCard Elsafe solutions for installation as part of the renovation of its 659 guestrooms.

The completed renovation of the 38-story Union Square hotel features the addition of VingCard’s Orion energy management system, Signature RFID locks, and Elsafe‘s Infinity II electronic in-room safes, all powered by the VISIONLINE wireless online access management system.