According to Smart Card Technology International 2008, Contactless cards, online payments security and mobile communications are expected  to be the key drivers of the smart card market in 2008. Being published each year since 1993, this annual guide to the industry highlights the most important developments in the year gone by and identifies the key trends that will drive the market forwards in the year ahead.

For 2008, the main drivers within each of the key smart card markets are identified as:

    * Financial services: Contactless cards, ecommerce and online banking security, prepaid and gift cards
    * ID Credentials: Government ID programs, epassports, health record cards
    * Transit & Ticketing: multi-model interoperability
    * Telecoms: megaSIMs, value added services

    This new edition of Smart Card Technology International highlights the enormous impact that this emerging technology is expected to have on the smart card industry, and also includes a special section devoted to near field communication. The 2008 edition also looks at the emerging importance of multi-application cards, includes an analysis of the smart card chip market and provides a comprehensive directory of smart card industry suppliers.

    Contributors to this year's edition include senior executives from associations, trade bodies and companies all around the world including NXP, Innovision, Frost & Sullivan, Visa, NFC Forum, ViVOtech, Valimo Wireless, SanDisk, Renesas, GlobalPlatform, Nomad Payments, Eurosmart, Texas Instruments, VeriFone, Hitachi, Spartanics, Xiring, Thales, Ecebs, Infineon, Aware, Siemens, ACT Canada, Smart Card Alliance, ICMA, Smartex, Smart Card Forum of China, System Plus Consulting and the Smart Card Society of South Africa.

    "2008 is shaping up to be an important year for the smart card industry, particularly in the mobile arena where we expect to see NFC and megaSIMs having a major impact," says Sarah Clark, editor of Smart Card Technology International. "The use of smart cards to increase ecommerce security and reduce online fraud is also expected to grow significantly around the world this year. Elsewhere, the successful introduction of contactless cards in many countries during 2007 is set to continue in 2008 whilst the government ID and transit ticketing markets both look strong."