Telemediacartes started up in 1985-86 as a company dedicated to the development and marketing of Smartcard operated systems. The goal was to introduce secure entry systems, gaming cards, smartcard payphone and banking (similar to IPSO) and a number of other applications. A number of smart card suppliers were used over the period of 1987 to early1990’s, but the first major supplier was Honeywell Bull with 3rd and 4th generation CP8 cards, supplied in plain stock, unprinted. Telemediacartes arranged their own printing and programming of all small batch test and demo cards, and many types were printed in quantities of 5 to 30 pieces, based on demo or test requirements. By 1988, Gemplus were introducing lowered cost smart cards, and a batch of AFNOR cards were introduced to Telemediacartes operation and testing. By late 1988, Oberthur were now supplying Telemediacartes with CP8 smart cards with oval contacts in ISO position, though Gemplus continued to supply cards into the 1990s. We have added this smartcard section with a little bit of chaotic order, trying to present batches of similar cards. thanks to Michel Mercier, and Emmanuel Coris for their support in this previously obscure, but important Smartcard section.

This section published with help from Jack De Langavant of Multos International, and Museum E-Purse specialist Mark Jacobs

Thanks to GSM Museum specialist Alain Knecht for his GSM support