Oberthur Card Systems has achieved Visa approval for version 2 of its GalactIC 2.1 payment card, a Java-based, open platform, multi-application smart card for e-payments.
The approval means that Oberthur currently owns two of the four RSA Java-based cards compliant with the highest Visa certification, level 3.
Based upon Open Platform 2.0.1 specifications and compliant with Common Criteria specifications (EAL1+), this latest multi-application card to join the Visa Smart range provides a secure payment channel for card holders from any terminal including the PC, mobile phone, TV or face-to-face at a point-of-sale.
Improvements over version 1 of GalactIC 2.1 include a more dynamic memory to enable cardholders and issuers to house more applications on the card. These can be run at the same time, allowing users to carry out payment transactions over the Internet, for example authentication of cardholder, security of the online transaction and payment using debit/credit.
A further advantage V2 holds over version 1 is that it has a key generator integrated in the card - this enhances the security of the card as the keys are already held within the card and so download is conducted locally.