What is a smart card?
A smart card is a card with an integrated circuit (IC) chip. A smart card is often compared to a PC since the IC chip can retain a large amount of data and can perform calculations.

 What are the differences between the smart card and the conventional magnetic stripe card?
The differences are in the way data is recorded-an IC chip vs. a magnetic stripe - and in the storage capacity for data. The IC chip on the smart card can store thousands of times more information than a magnetic stripe. In addition the more advanced technology used by the smart card, such as encryption and keys for authentication, provides a much high level of security against counterfeiting and other types of fraud.

 What is EMV?
EMV is the de-facto global standard for smart card credit and debit transactions. The acronym EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa.




 How does the smart card support broader services?
Since the smart card has the ability to store a large amount of data, it can offer a number of applications, each providing a different service to consumers. Not only private companies but also public institutions are utilizing the smart card to broaden their services.

 How does the smart card reduce the number of cards in the consumer's wallet?
The smart card has the ability to store a large amount of data, so it can integrate the different functions that now require many separate cards. For example the TIS Employee smart card has five distinct functions supported by one single card: credit, cash advance, debit, e-purse and building access.

 How is the smart card more secure than the conventional magnetic stripe card?
The advanced technology used by the smart card, including encryption and keys for authentication, provides a much higher level of security against counterfeiting and other types of fraud.




 Why is JCB moving ahead with the smart card?
JCB has done the research on what consumers want from a smart card, and that is to integrate the many cards in their wallets into a single smart card that can do everything. Also, many consumers are wary of fraud and very concerned with issues of security, which the smart card can provide at much higher levels than the conventional magnetic stripe card.

 What is J/Smart?
J/Smart is JCB's credit application for smart card transactions. J/Smart is compliant with EMV, the de-facto global standard for smart card credit and debit transactions.

 What is the JCB DualPlus smart card?
DualPlus is a multi-function card with a single chip and two interfaces, contact and contactless. See the section describing "DualPlus" for more information.