SAKEM for Multi-application Smartcards

Return->

The smartcard technology can be used in four application areas:

1. stored value or cash replacement technologies, including electronic cash technology and prepaid service metering,
   
   
2. electronic identification (to which the SAKEM procedure is applicable),
   
   
3. customer loyalty programs, and
   
   
4. data collection and transport (a market that never happened).

In a classical example, a cash replacement application is combined with electronic identification, so that reloading the stored value in the cash replacement application is an authenticated electronic payment transaction (based on the electronic identification).

The notion of multi-application smartcard may go beyond that, e.g. if a cardholder is allowed to install a brand new application, one that was not even dreamed of when the card was first issued, whithout ever bringing the card to any place where the cardholder does not usually go. The SAKEM procedure is very well suited to this case, and is not contingent upon the presence of a cryptographic accelerator circuit on the smart card.

Return->