TrendNew opportunities for biometrics and smart cards
The biometric microprocessor card market is growing by leaps and bounds; the microprocessor smart card market will hit 5.32 billion units shipped in 2010 and rise to 6.02 billion units in 2011; the growth owes to rising sales of e-ID cards, especially from the European residence permit, and growth in e-services for citizens
At Cartes in Paris today, delegates were given impressive growth statistics for the worldwide microprocessor card industry.
Eurosmart, the main industry association, gave its annual assessment of the market, and predicts that the microprocessor smart card market will hit 5.32 billion units shipped in 2010 and rise to 6.02 billion units in 2011.
Securitydoumentworld reports that the government and healthcare segment was the third largest and also saw impressive growth. In 2009 this segment was reported as 160 million units.
For 2010 this has risen to an estimated 190 million and further growth of 18 percent to 225 million units is expected for 2011.
The association put the growth down to rising sales of e-ID cards, especially from the European residence permit and growth in e-services for citizens.
The visa waiver initiative from the United States and the drive to issue fingerprint supported e-Passports in Europe is also a growth driver.
