HID Global announced a secure citizen ID card; Precise Biometrics entered into a commercial software license and distribution agreement with Samsung’s System LSI Business; Evolis will unveil its new solutions for financial and government markets during Trustech-Cartes 2016.

The Fall 2016 Regarding ID magazine is online and includes stories covering Blockchain and identity; e-gates easing international travel; advanced card materials and desktop issuance and the future of identity within the federal government.

Evolis currently ranks as a market leader in terms of card printers sold and boasted sales of more than 75 million euros in 2015. With more than 300 employees and distributors in 140 countries around the globe, Evolis has quickly progressed from a spinoff to a major player.

ePassports are now the standard rather than the exception. The contactless smart card chip embedded in the documents enable a country to make sure the information on the document matches what’s printed on the data page but soon additional functionality may be added to the chips.

Gemalto is supporting Cameroon with the deployment of polycarbonate eID cards; XTec wins U.S. Department of State award PIV contract; the Government of the Macao has extended its contract with Veridos for the country’s smart card identity system.

PVC is the standby for most card issuers. It’s cheap, readily available and easy to work with. But those same reasons make it insecure and not very durable and that’s why issuers should start to look at advanced card materials for their credentials.

If you’re building a new office building, there are a variety of options for physical access control. Don’t be stuck with last-generation technology, make sure to explore all the possibilities available to make access secure and easy.