Card reader for iPhones

Howard Solomon

14 years ago

Calgary's Wireless Dynamics Inc. has created the iCarte 110, a near field communications and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader/writer for iPhones. The device, which attaches to the bottom on the handset, also contains an embedded smart-chip which can be configured for debit, credit, pre-paid and loyalty cards, making the iPhone into an electronic wallet. As a result, it can take advantage of retailers or transit operators offering contactless payments, transit payments, loyalty rewards, checking balances, top-up pre-paid credit, discovering new services from smart posters or kiosks and exchanging information with other NFC phones.

In addition to NFC and peer to peer communication capabilities, the iCarte supports multiple RFID protocol read and write functions. RFID tag information can be read and written and communicated in real-time to enterprise databases through the iPhone’s Wi-Fi or 3G connections. Other possible uses include asset tracking, document tracking, healthcare, security and access control.

The iCarte operates at 13.56MHz and supports a wide range of ISO14443A/B and ISO15693 tags including NXP MIFARE and I-CODE SLI, Texas Instrument Tag-it HF-I and others. The unit is capable of peer to peer communications utilizing NFCIP-1 and ISO 18092 standards and the embedded secure access module (SAM) is compliant with JCOP operating system. It works with iPhone 3G and 3GS with OS version 3.0 or higher and has a mini-USB connector that can be used to charge the iPhone and sync with iTunes.