CUSTOM PRINTED CONTACTLESS CARDS

FAQ: Contactless Smart Cards

Below is some information to help you understand contactless smart cards:

What is a Contactless Smart Card?

A contactless smart card is a credit card sized RFID card used in applications needing to protect personal information and/or deliver fast, secure transactions. Contactless smart cards contain a read-only CSN (Card Serial Number) or UID (Unique ID) number plus a re-writeable microchip that can be transcribed using RF radio waves. The cards are used for secure identification authentication applications including those in access control, transit fare cards, loyalty and points cards, gift cards, identification cards and payment cards.

What Protocol Does a Contactless Smart Card Use?

ISO/IEC 14443

How do Contactless Smart Cards Work?

Proximity cards are also called prox cards. They use a 125 kHz frequency to transmit a signal to a door access reader once the card is placed in proximity to the reader. When the card is placed on the reader, the card’s unique strand of numbers is passed to the access control panel, verifying if the number matches an approved card number (CSN) in the internal database.

What is the Difference Between a Proximity Card and a Smart Card?

Proximity Cards only store the facility code of the building or facility that the card should access and a card number. Smart cards are cable of storing this same information with the added ability to authenticate and store biographical information of the user.