IDEMIA Acquires X Core Technologies’ Metal Payment Card Business
At a time when demand for metal payment cards increases, IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, broadens its existing offer with Smart Metal Art, a new metal payment card range fully suitable for contactless payments. Smart Metal Art comes from the acquisition of X Core’s metal payment card business and associated patents. Smart Metal Art is designed for the dual interface mass affluent market and is already certified by Visa, Mastercard and Amex.
Smart Metal Art includes patented technology, developed by US firm X Core and recently acquired by IDEMIA. These patents allow for perfect dual interface performance, as well as decoration capabilities, which are then encapsulated within protective layers. Smart Metal Art will be manufactured by IDEMIA in our Exton (Pennsylvania, USA) facility.
At a time when banks need to differentiate strongly from one another, this game-changing technology gives them free reign over their card designs while allowing them to use unrivaled graphics such as etching or a brushed look combined with high-definition coloring techniques on their metal cards.
Thanks to this proprietary technology, IDEMIA will enable even more financial institutions to distribute its latest-generation dual-interface metal payment cards to premium customers, in volume around the world. IDEMIA’s end-to-end contactless metal card offer encompasses design, manufacture, personalization and product packaging.
Smart Metal Art has been certified by Visa, Mastercard and Amex, with no restriction on contactless performance, giving IDEMIA’s clients the opportunity of a very rapid go-to-market for their metal cards.
Amanda Gourbault, Executive Vice-President for Financial Institutions activities at IDEMIA said: “Payment cards are the latest marketing asset for banks for customer acquisition. Acquiring X Core is entirely consistent with IDEMIA’s strategy to offer cutting-edge technology to its customers without ever compromising on security or convenience. Our new offer, Smart Metal Art, delivers the best high-end cards combined with unmatched contactless payment features, which will be a game changer for end-users.
