Toppan Supplies Transport/Financial Smart Card in Hong Kong
2008-08-12 18:01:06 -
Tokyo, Aug 12, 2008 - (ACN Newswire) - Toppan Printing Company Ltd has announced production and supply of smart cards for transport and electronic payment for the Hong Kong market.
The 'Transport/Financial Smart Card' was released on July 21st by Citibank Hong Kong, the leading financial institution in Hong Kong, as the Octopus Citibank Platinum Card (service start on July 21st) and the Octopus Citibank Gold Card (service start on August 8th), as combinations of Citibank credit cards and the "Octopus" Hong Kong public transport Smart Card.
The card is equipped with "FeliCa"* contactless smart card technology and a magnetic stripe for overseas use. It is a multifunction card that serves as a transport card for public transportation as well as a payment card supporting credit card and electronic money applications.
Toppan is collaborating on the card with Toppan Management Systems (S) Pte Ltd. (TMS, a Toppan subsidiary in Singapore) and Toppan Forms Card Technologies Ltd. (TFCT, a Hong Kong subsidiary of Toppan Forms Co., Ltd).
Toppan will actively deploy its Smart Card business in Hong Kong in cooperation with TMS, which has know-how and experience in selling the card in Singapore, and TFCT, which has strong business relationships with financial institutions in Hong Kong, keeping a manufacturing site for both smart and mag stripe cards.
Background
Toppan has been actively marketing its IC card for overseas markets and started production and exclusive supply of Singapore transport/financial smart cards in December 2006. The card was adopted by major financial institutions in Singapore including Citibank Singapore. More than 500,000 cards have been issued to date.
In Hong Kong, the Octopus card is widely used and is an IC transport card carried by most of the Hong Kong residents. Available with SONY FeliCa technology, the card is the first implementation of the technology overseas; approximately 14 million cards has been issued since 1998.
Thanks to the extended infrastructure for the Octopus card in Hong Kong, the card is used not only for the subway but also for other public transportation systems like buses, and ferries. It is also used as an electronic payment card in the about 50,000 retail shops.
Toppan has been developing, manufacturing and issuing a number of smart cards using FeliCa technology for the Japanese market. Toppan's Transport/Financial Smart Card accounts for approximately 60% of the market.
Toppan Moves Forward
Toppan will actively deploy its Smart Card business overseas by cultivating the market for the Transport/Financial Smart Card mainly in Southeast Asia, where transport cards using FeliCa technology have already been popular.
Features of Transport/Financial Smart Card
- Using FeliCa, contactless IC card technology
- Mounted magnetic stripe for overseas use
- Combination of transport card and financial card
- Contactless IC antenna allowing space for embossing
About Octopus Citibank Platinum Card and Octopus Citibank Gold Card
- Multifunction card which can be used as a transport card (Octopus card) as well as a credit card (Citibank credit card)
- Automatic reloading add value service
- Octopus cash rebate (service name "Octopus Reward$", cardholder to earn Reward$ for any purchase at Octopus Reward partner store. The Reward$ can be used as cash at Octopus Reward partner store.)
* FeliCa is a highly secure contactless RFID IC chip smart card system by Sony.
FeliCa is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.
About Toppan Printing Co Ltd.
Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (TSE: 7911), since its founding in 1900, has played key roles in worldwide leadership of the printing industry, generated global acclaim and US$13 billion in revenues. Today, the Company's operations extend beyond conventional lines of printing and show strong performances in each field, including securities and cards, commercial printing, publications printing, packaging, industrial materials,and electronics. Especially in the electronics field, Toppan boasts the largest share of the world market for liquid-crystal color filters. For more information visit www.toppan.co.jp
Contact:Toppan Printing Corporate Communications Tel: +81-3-3835-511
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