ORLANDO, FLORIDA (May 13, 2003) — Fargo Electronics announced today that it has partnered with HID Corporation to expand the encoding capabilities of Fargo printer/encoders to include support for HID’s iCLASS contactless smart cards. HID is the largest manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry. Fargo creates innovative printing systems that personalize plastic identification cards, complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information. The announcement was made at the CardTech/SecurTech conference and exhibition in Orlando.

“We’re excited to be able to offer this new encoding option,” said Neil O’Mara, Fargo’s Director of E-card Business Development. “Customers can benefit from the technological and security advances of iCLASS cards plus get the innovative features of Fargo’s Professional Series printer/encoders. The integration of these two technologies expands the options to the end user.”

The iCLASS encoding option is available on any of Fargo’s DTC500 or HDP800 series printer/encoders. For added functionality, printer/encoders featuring this option will also have an ISO magnetic stripe encoder.

“Customers are demanding more control over card personalization,” said John Menzel, Director of Technology Integration for HID Corporation. “Fargo’s integration of iCLASS technology into their encoders makes it easier for end users to manage the process and increases the value of the contactless smart card.” 

In addition to iCLASS contactless smart cards, Fargo’s encoding options include support for dual high/low coercivity magnetic stripe cards, read/write capabilities for contact and MIFARE® contactless smart cards, and read-only capabilities for HID proximity cards.

About iCLASS by HID
The global leader in proximity and Wiegand cards and readers, HID Corporation has introduced iCLASS, a new 13.56 MHz contactless smart card technology optimized for physical access control, IT secure authentication, and other applications. iCLASS smart cards and readers make access control more powerful and more versatile. More importantly, they offer enhanced security through encryption and mutual authentication. iCLASS is also user-friendly, delivering the convenience, affordability, and reliability of proximity technology for which HID is known around the world.

As the largest manufacturer of contactless access control readers and cards for the security industry, HID has shipped over 150 million credentials to customers worldwide. HID pioneered the development of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for physical access control.  Proximity and iCLASS technologies can be housed on the same credential and combined with other technologies such as magnetic stripe, barcode, or contact smart chip modules. This provides users the ability to leverage their investment in existing systems while seamlessly upgrading to new technologies and adding new applications.  For increased security, users can add a photo ID or anti-counterfeiting element such as a hologram or ultraviolet ink. HID’s experience in developing card technologies enables them to play a critical role in the evolution and adoption of contactless smart card technology used for applications such as access control, IT secure authentication, digital cash, the storage of biometric templates, and the storage and retrieval of critical information. For more information on HID, visit their Web site at www.hidcorp.com

About Fargo
Fargo is the world’s leader in innovative technologies for desktop plastic card personalization systems. Fargo is the only manufacturer to offer three distinct print technologies – High Definition Printing™ (reverse image), traditional Direct-to-Card printing (dye-sublimation), and CardJet Printing™ technology (inkjet) – to personalize plastic identification cards, complete with digital images and text, lamination, and electronically encoded information.

Personalized ID cards are used for visual identification, access control, loyalty management, membership tracking, financial transactions and other applications. More than 70,000 Fargo systems have been sold in the U.S. and in over 80 other countries in a variety of markets such as corporations, national IDs, drivers’ licenses, universities, schools, government installations, transportation, casinos, healthcare facilities, E-commerce, retail stores, correctional institutions, sports events and recreation sites.

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