Chase Manhattan Bank has licensed the Open Transaction Platform from Funge Systems as part of a pilot programme to test the application of pre-paid smart card technology on US Navy ships.
The programme, called NavyCash, provides for smart cards, terminal readers and software to be installed onboard ships as a replacement for most crew member cash transactions. The card also doubles as a MasterCard magnetic stripe debit card for onshore transactions.
NavyCash was initiated by the Department of the Navy's Smart Card office (DON-SCO). It brings together a team of partners including: Chase and Funge, to provide financial transaction settlements; Microsoft, which provides the smart card operating system; Atmel, a supplier of secure Flash-based micro-controllers; Smart Card Integrators; Maximus, a large government systems integrator providing the smart card middleware; Eldyne, a ship-board installation and wireless technology provider; MasterCard International; and card personalisation outfit UbiQ.
Keith Benson, CEO of Funge Systems, is already looking ahead: "Our patented intellectual property regarding the use of smart cards in mobile phones provides the Navy with a clear migration path to use pocket PCs and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) accessed through wireless technology."