The INPU trials were internal trials conducted by Telecom Australia to assess chip technology for phonecards and other smart card applications. Two chip manufacturers based in France, Gemplus, and Schlumberger, were involved in talks with Telecom in the period leading up to the INPU trial. General demo cards from a few card producers, NTT, Anritsu, Schlumberger, and Gemplus were used in the early 90's, and it was these last 2 who were asked to produce trial cards.

While we only know the single INPU trial card produced by Schlumberger. It seems that Gemplus was more involved in the actual internal trials. A folder was issued to staff involved in the internal trial.
It is thought that the 2 cards FINE, and INPU were included in the folder.

js800_aussie_050

Gemplus FINE cards were  for internal trials where it was used as a smart access card with PIN to log in the the ISDN telephone service. Calls were made while logged into the service, and the card remained inserted while the user was logged in.
We would like more information about the INPU trial, as we are not sure how it is connected with the FINE (ISDN) service. Also we would like to know why some of the INPU are reloadable smart cards, and others are disposable cards.

Telecom Australia produced a deck of playing cards with the INPU design.
perhaps these were given away to staff involved in the smart card trials.
js800_aussie_043 js800_aussie_043b

If you have any information about this series of cards either INPU, or FINE, or any other information on chip card development in Australia, please :

Contact us