Gentlemen, it's a matter of price versus capabilities. I recently put
together an ISO7816 reader/writer for less than $20. When's the last time
you built a magnetic card reader/writer. The cards are more expensive sure,
but look what you get - intelligence on a card - built in security measures
- up to 4K of storage space. Further, smart cards have been in use in
Europe and Japan for years. There are millions of people carrying them
around. In North America, we simply sorely lag behind in this matter. If
mag stripe wasn't dying as a technology, why is VISA, MC, AMEX and the rest
of the big card users all moving toward using smart card based debit
systems? Have you ever heard of Mondex? They have a smart card based test
system in place in Guelph Ontario using smart card based commerce. As well,
a lot of debit type systems i.e university/hospital food service is moving
to smart cards. I'm sorry, but in light of these developments and the ease
with which a smart card can be interfaced, mag cards are, indeed, old hat.

Regards and best wishes to all,
KcW

----------
> From: blunn@KEYCORP.COM.AU
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: Magnetic card reader.
> Date: Friday, August 22, 1997 2:48 AM
>
> Bob Lunn
> 08/22/97 09:48 AM
>
>
> > I do not agree that magnetic cards are old hat.
> > Rather, I would say they are proven technology.
>
> Latest estimate I've seen is 2 billion magnetic swipe
> cards in current use world wide.
>
> Hardly 'old hat'.  Most definitely 'proven'.
>
> ___Bob