Federal employees use a multiple application smart card as their official government identification card. The cards are also used for building and network access, to provide secure e-mail services and for electronic airlines ticketing and boarding. Corporate employees use multiple application Smart Cards, such as a corporate Visa card, to ensure that corporate travel rates are applied to their accounts when checking into member hotels and when renting cars while traveling. New military recruits at bases across the United States use Visa Cash Cards to make purchases at base exchanges. College students use multiple application smart cards as library cards, gymnasium keys, and Visa cash payment cards.
Security is also an important issue.
Merchants can also authenticate smart card users and update programs over the Internet. With this additional functionality, Visa says the bottom line is that consumers will use smart cards more often and for more reasons. Momentum behind the Java Card platform is strong and seemingly growing stronger. Consumers are benefiting from this. Businesses are benefiting from this.