Another year, another milestone

With another year of strong growth behind us, the smart cards industry has much to celebrate. In the government and ID market, there has been a rapid growth in the use of the technology for applications such as ePassports, ID documents and worker credentials. In the payments sector, EMV continues to make its mark, with countries such as Canada now joining the ranks of nations deploying chip-based technology. Contactless payments are also becoming increasingly popular worldwide. However, there have been challenges, with some companies reorganising in the face of an increasingly competitive environment. And, while some schemes have made good progress, others have suffered hiccups which have led to delays in deployment. This month, we take a look back on 2007 and indulge in a little crystal ball gazing, asking members of industry associations what they think 2008 may have in store.