ACG Working With MasterCard To Develop Radio Frequency Antennas For PayPass Key Fobs

ACG Identification Technologies, a leading component and technology supplier in the smart card and RFID markets, today announced that it is working with MasterCard International to develop radio frequency (RF) antennas for key fobs. Antennas developed and manufactured by ACG will be integrated into MasterCard® PayPassTM key fobs for contactless payments based on RF technology.

MasterCard PayPass is a new "contactless" payment feature that provides consumers with a fast and convenient way to pay for small ticket purchases. Using PayPass, consumers simply tap their payment card or alternate PayPass form factor (such as a key fob) on a specially equipped merchant terminal, eliminating the need to fumble for cash and coins, hand their card over to a clerk or swipe the card. PayPass also provides better record keeping than cash.

PayPass cards and key fobs have a built-in chip and antenna that communicate payment details to specially equipped point of sale terminals wirelessly at a frequency of 13.56 MHz.

"PayPass technology can be used in a number of form factors and devices, including a convenient fob that fits on a key chain for easy access," said Murdo Munro, Vice President Mobile/Wireless, MasterCard International. "Users simply tap their PayPass-enabled key fob on the PayPass reader at participating merchants and they are on their way."

"We selected ACG to develop key-fob solutions for PayPass based on their expertise and manufacturing capabilities," added Munro.

"The fact that MasterCard International has selected ACG as one of its partners to develop its contactless solutions, underscores the competence and reputation that ACG and its mother company, ASSA ABLOY, have gained as suppliers of state-of-the-art RFID technology," says Ulrich Reutner, CEO of ACG. "With the expected boom in contactless payments, we anticipate a lot more business for ACG in the area of financial transactions."

About ACG
ACG Identification Technologies is an independent component and technology supplier serving the entire value chain of smart card and RFID-based systems. Headquartered in Walluf (Germany), ACG has 21 locations throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.