OMNIKEY Announces Affordable PC-Linked 13.56 MHz RFID Smart Card Reader

Walluf, Germany and Irvine, CA (September 1, 2004) OMNIKEY, the world leading manufacturer of innovative smart card readers, has developed a practical and affordable dual interface smart card reader. The CardMan® 5121 combines the advantages of contact and contactless smart card technology in a single USB desktop device.

The CardMan 5121 is based on a 13.56 MHz contactless smart card RFID interface that is compliant with ISO specifications 14443 A and B and 15693. The reader works with a variety of 13.56 MHz contactless smart cards including Philips (MIFARE®, DESFire®, MIFARE ProX®), Texas Instruments (TagIt®), HID (iCLASS®), ST Micro, Infineon, Atmel, and many more.

The CardMan 5121 allows end-users to experience the convenience, speed, and security of contactless technology for applications including log-on to Windows, networks, websites, and applications or the secure storage of user names, passwords, and personal information. This reader provides the ideal solution for end-users who currently use a contactless smart card for building access, as a corporate or student ID, or for transit or cashless vending applications.

The dual interface feature of the CardMan 5121 economically supports end-user environments where both contactless and contact smart card technology may be in use. By emulating standard protocols, the reader allows transparent use of contactless microprocessor smart cards within the PC/SC framework.

Consistent with OMNIKEY’s tradition of offering robust, technically superior firmware and driver support, the CardMan 5121 guarantees the highest level of interoperability available on the market. By sharing the same state-of-the-art technology features of the CardMan 3121 - OMNIKEY’s contact smart card reader with USB interface - compliance with major standards such as ISO 7816, PC/SC, Microsoft® WHQL, and EMV 2000 Level 1 specifications is guaranteed.

About OMNIKEY

OMNIKEY, the world leading manufacturer of innovative smart card readers,offers the most diversified product portfolio available on the market today. Having established a tight collaboration with key decision makers in the card manufacturing and software industries, OMNIKEY sits at the table of innovation. OMNIKEY’s smart card readers for PCs can be utilized by any application including logical access control, digital signature, GSM authentication, secure banking and online transactions, loyalty programs, and healthcare solutions.

OMNIKEY, headquartered in Walluf, near Wiesbaden (Germany), is part of the ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group (ITG). OMNIKEY´s regional offices for North and South America reside in Irvine, California with technical support in Atlanta, Georgia. Design, production management, and quality control of OMNIKEY’s products are carried out in the company’s two R&D centers in Linz, Austria and Erfurt, Germany. OMNIKEY readers are distributed worldwide through a global network of partners, including value added resellers, system integrators, and OEMs.

About ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group (ITG)

ASSA ABLOY ITG is focused on current and emerging identification solutions within the radio frequency identification (RFID) and smart card markets. With headquarters in Irvine, CA, ITG employs approximately 770 people worldwide. In addition to a Research and Development Center, ITG consists of the companies HID, Indala, CTS, Interlock, Cubit, BUGA, Sokymat, OMNIKEY, Access ID, ACG Identification, ITG Europe, Middle East, and Africa, ITG Asia Pacific, and ITG Latin America. ASSA ABLOY ITG is part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions. The ASSA ABLOY Group has about 30,000 employees and annual sales of about EUR 3 billion.