Smart Card Alliance conference: What's in store?

With its 2007 conference, the Smart Card Alliance continues a tradition of spotting trends and technological advances, while zeroing in on where the payments industry is headed.

Dubbed Smart Cards: The Future of Digital Transactions, the three-day event will take place at the Marriott Long Wharf in Boston from Oct. 9 through 11, 2007. Featuring over 50 speakers, it promises an in-depth look at smart card payments and secure identity applications.

Experts will present workshops on such aspects of the payments sphere as mobile/near field communications, identity protection and data security, as well as the government, health care and transportation markets.

A key offering will be an update on the continuing contactless payment technology rollout, including reactions, acceptance rates, challenges, and future plans -- from the perspectives of consumers, issuers, card Associations and analysts.

Additionally, high-level transportation officials will speak about several recently announced contactless fare system enhancements. Health care experts will discuss the role smart cards will play in a number of government and private-sector programs.

Another hot topic will be government security directives, which continue to evolve. They affect passports, transportation worker credentials, driver licenses and other secure identification efforts.

And, there will be break-out sessions and numerous opportunities to confer with fellow participants and experts across the industry.

Of special note: The popular Emerging Technology and Innovation Showcase will be featured during the evening reception Oct. 10, and the full-day Educational Institute Workshop will follow the conference on Friday, Oct. 12.

The Smart Card Alliance strives to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

For more information, visit www.smartcardalliance.org .

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