Loyalty/Membership Smart Card

Contactless

Contactless card for customer loyalty programs, membership verification, and reward point accumulation.

Contactless | ISO/IEC 14443 | Since 1990

Quick Specs

Contactless
Interface Contactless
Chip Type Memory
OS None (Memory Card)
EAL Level Not Evaluated
Lifespan 3 years
First Deployed 1990

Full Specifications

Hardware

InterfaceContactless
Chip TypeMemory
Operating SystemNone (Memory Card)

Communication

ProtocolISO 14443
Extended APDU No
Logical Channels1

Security

EAL LevelNot Evaluated
Secure Element Yes
Tamper Resistant Yes
Crypto Coprocessor Yes
Biometric Support No

Frequently Asked Questions

Consider four key factors: interface type (contact, contactless, or dual-interface), security requirements (EAL certification level), application domain (payment, identity, transport), and chip platform (JavaCard, MULTOS, native). For EMV payments, dual-interface cards are now standard. For government eID, EAL5+ certified cards are typically required.

Contact smart cards require physical insertion into a reader and communicate via the ISO 7816 interface (gold contact pads). Contactless cards use radio frequency (ISO 14443) and work within a few centimeters of a reader. Dual-interface cards combine both interfaces on a single chip, offering maximum flexibility.

EAL (Evaluation Assurance Level) is part of the Common Criteria framework for evaluating IT security. For smart cards, EAL4+ is common for payment cards, while EAL5+ or EAL6+ is required for government identity documents and ePassports. Higher EAL levels indicate more rigorous security testing and formal verification methods.