Credit card can now 'sing for your supper'

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28 July 2004 News

Your credit card can now authenticate itself by ‘singing’ into a telephone, cellphone or any PC with a microphone. This innovative technology, called the ComDot card from Beepcard, looks like a standard credit card and meets ISO credit standards, but the unique feature is a built-in button that, when activated, emits an audible squawk.

This squawk is an audio encoding of an encrypted card ID and is a one-time password. This information is relayed to an authentication server that confirms the authenticity of the card and can then authorise transactions, possibly further requesting a PIN.

It is a simple, elegant concept that is rich with possibilities, says local distributor, Cirrus-Tech Vue. There are many ways of verifying documents and cards, but they are generally either easily falsified (as in credit card 'skimming'), or involve special readers or equipment. With the ComDot, all one needs is an audio channel, and because the information is easily transmitted in a machine-readable form, the authentication server and response system can be fully automated, it says, dispensing with the very high costs of call centre personnel and systems, and thus is also much faster.

Obvious applications are for Internet banking login: one can use a public PC such as in an Internet Café with peace of mind. Even if the card's song should be recorded, it will not help since every password is usable only once. One of the worst areas for credit card fraud is in the mail order telephone order (MOTO) market, where the vendor has to take it on trust that the buyer has not simply skimmed the details from a valid card. With the ComDot, a buyer proves possession of the physical card.

Beepcard have even more interesting products in the pipeline, says Cirrus-Tech Vue, where the card would incorporate biometrics in the form of a fingerprint reader or voice recognition. The technology would ensure that the ComDot would only activate if pressed by the owner's finger, or on command from the owner's voice.

For more information contact Chris Crozier, Cirrus-Tech Vue, 011 783 1508, [email protected], www.cirrus.co.za

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Credit card can now 'sing for your supper'

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