Banco Santander deploys NFC services on microSD

Gemalto announces that Banco Santander, through its Santander Universities Global Division, is issuing the Optelio Contactless microSD solution in Spain, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, as part of their University Smart Card program. The application is now live at a number of universities, and participating students, teachers and other personnel are able to use their mobile phones for everyday tasks such as building access, and as an ePurse to make payments in canteens. Banco Santander is also adding the mobile payment option integrated with its own mobile payment wallet, and is planning to use the NFC-capable microSD to deploy a wide range of services such as mobile transportation ticketing.
This innovation builds on the success of Banco Santander's University Smart Card program, which is already used by more than 7.1 million people, in over 270 universities across 12 countries. Gemalto's complete solution encompasses the personalization, issuance and fulfillment services, the microSD card, and the multi-service wallet framework necessary for Banco Santander to create its own mobile app.
Recognized as the most advanced product of its type on the market, Gemalto's Optelio Contactless microSD now incorporates 4GB of memory space for users to store personal data such as photos and videos, and provides seamless support for MIFARE ticketing applications. Gemalto's innovation also highlights a major breakthrough in radio technology, with enhanced RF signal transmission that ensures optimum performance across the widest possible range of phone handsets and operating environments.