Racom, Bull connect in contactless smart card alliance

------------------------------------------------------



 Bull CP8, a

division of Groupe Bull, and Raycom Systems announced an alliance to

develop, manufacture and market contactless smart card transaction

systems.

  The agreement positions both companies to increase sales in the

smart card market that is already growing at APR and expected to be over

$1 billion by 1996.

  Officials with both companies said the deal also addresses a growing

need to provide a single, multifunction contactless smart card capable of

supporting both industry standards and multiple applications currently

being serviced by incompatible and noninteroperable technologies -

including magnetic stripe, contacted smart cards, tokens and RF

indentification systems.

  The pact enables Bull CP8 to market Racom products under its own name

through its international sales network to independent OEM's integrators

and end-users.

  In addition, Bull CP8 and its European manufacturing partners will

assemble and personalize cards using Racom's contactless technology. The

companies also will join forces to develop ISO standard compliant cards

and integrate Racom's contactless reader technology into Bull CP8 contact

card readers.

  In addition, the agreement combines Bull CP8's expertise in financial

transaction card operating systems, high volume card manufacturing and

cryptography with Raycom's contactless card microprocessor technology.

  The pact should offer multiapplication, multifunction contactless card

systems supporting both existing ISO compliant telephone, prepaid, credit

and debit contact card markets as well as emerging contactless system

applications found in automatic fare collection, toll collection, customer

loyality, electronic purse, leisure and automated vending markets.

  Raycom Systems designs, manufactures and markets contactless radio

frequency transaction precessing subsystems for people and mobile

equipment.

  Racom's products are based on integration of ferroelectric memory

technology and wireless, batteryless communications technology allowing

hands-free contactless operation at speeds undetectable by human

perception.

=====================================================================

  The above reprinted without the permission of anyone. It was

copied from 'The BULLetin', December 1994 issue. This is an independent

publication for users of Bull computers.

  Wow, just think about the -convenience- this provides. you no longer

need to fumble through your purse or sort through your pocket for your

Visa or ATM card. Just tell the cashier to point the scanner and - presto

- you've paid for your groceries! Or, better yet, your son heads to the

theater to see 'The Lion King', or so he says! Instead he wants to see the

current 'R' rated flick, but when he tries to purchase the ticket, the

machine says: "Minor - Not Allowed".

  But consider also that this is 'contactless'. The Federalies scan

everyone driving down the street and know whether you have paid your

vehicle registration, water bill, or have an income level comparable to

the vehicle you are driving.

  They know where you live, if your are married, if you have outstanding

parking tickets, ad nauseum; ALL WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEGE OF BEING

INTERROGATED. Remember, it's CONTACTLESS.

  With a slight amount of effort, the Feds can modify their NCIC database

to track each of these unknown -transactions- to track your every

movement. Automatic readers of this sort are available from Hughs which

are in the form of an arch across a road and can track multiple subjects

even if they change lanes.

  For those who do not know who Groupe Bull or Racom are:

  Groupe Bull: Headquarted in Paris, France.

Has partnerships with IBM, NEC, Zenith Data Systems to name a few. They

build and/or market computers from the Z-Note laptop size to their DPS9000

series (Sweden has a 9000/92T which processes every financial transaction

their government does from payroll to pensions.) Bull purchased Honeywell

Information Systems during the 1980's.

  Racom: Has been a leader in data communications in various forms since

the early days of electronic computing.



---  Welcome to the New World Order.  ---