IMS Research has released a new report projecting that 2.5 billion high-frequency contactless credentials will be shipped in 2015.

In the report, entitled “RFID – Smart & Secure Contactless Applications – World – 2011,” IMS finds that the three leading application sectors for contactless credentials are Government ID, Transportation/Mass Transit and Payment & Banking, accounting for for around 85% of all HF contactless credential shipments in 2010.

“In 2010, the Government ID sector was estimated to be largest sector,” says report analyst, Don Tait. “The rollout of national ID card schemes in Germany, Turkey, Brazil and India is forecast to increase demand for contactless credentials in this sector. Most contactless credentials for the transportation/mass transit sector will be shipped to Asia. The introduction of contactless credentials for transportation in countries such as China, India and Indonesia are forecast to increase the demand in Asia during the next five years. The payment & banking sector is predicted to be driven by the migration towards EMV and contactless deployments. In 2015, the payment & banking sector is projected to account for nearly one third of all contactless credential shipments.”

According to the report, the smart-card form factor is expected to account for most contactless credential shipments in the next five years, with 1.6 billion units shipped in 2015 (67.4% of the total).

Tait continues, “Shipments of NFC credentials – mainly NFC-enabled handsets – are projected to increase dramatically in the next five years. The launch of a number of NFC-enabled smart phones in 2011 will help the market to gain traction. Also, use of NFC-enabled phones for payment, mass transit & ticketing and access is also projected to boost market development over the next few years.”