ICL joins Microsoft smartcard alliance

ICL is backing Microsoft's smartcard debut with the announcement of an alliance to develop applications based on Windows.

In just three days since the launch of Windows Card, Microsoft has clocked up a tremendous amount of industry support. As well as the ICL announcement, a number of other well known vendors have jumped on the Windows bandwagon.

Gemplus, the payment systems equipment maker, pledged its support for the Windows Card yesterday and ID2, the certification authority developer, gave Microsoft its backing on Monday.

There are two other operating systems that have been vying to become the industry standard in the emerging smartcard market. Visa International has a Java-based version of the operating system called Javacard, while its rival Mastercard promotes Multos as an alternative. Now Microsoft has entered the race, both could face a much fiercer fight.

The Microsoft-ICL alliance, called SmartCity, plans to start work on electronic purse applications, network authentication systems and future applications that will involve smartcard-based corporate purchasing networks.