iButtons Provide a Smart eCash Solution
by Maxim Integrated Products
Steel-Encased Chips Secure Financial Transactions for 10 Years
Tired of constantly replacing or re-issuing flimsy plastic chip cards? Consider a new approach to electronic cashiButtons®. iButtons are computer chip-based electronic tokens enclosed in a 16mm stainless-steel case, rugged enough to withstand harsh environments.
An on-board 512-bit SHA-1 engine (ISO/IEC Standard 10118-3) makes the iButton secure enough to withstand even the most determined system attackers. iButtons easily attach to key fobs or other personal items making them easy to use but hard to lose. Compare smart cards to iButtons.
The smarter eCash solution is clear...
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Smart Cards |
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Durability |
-Plastic, 2-year max. lifetime -Up to 8 plated contacts -Minimal ESD protection |
-Steel Case, 10 year min. lifetime -Two solid steel contacts Over 25kV protection |
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Security |
EEPROM/FLASH stores secret, remains intact if attacked |
NV RAM stores, self-destructs if attacked |
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Low Installations and Maintenance costs |
-Require frequent replacement/disposal -Require complex electro mechanical readers -Require critical contact alignment -Card slots jam easily
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-No reissuing/disposal costs for 10years (min) -Minimal, low cost reader electronics -Alignment-insensitive probe -Simple robust probe |
iButtons are ideally suited for many electronic cash applications such as vending machines, parking meters, arcade games, fleet fueling, public transportation, and utility meters.
