Datacard opens subsidiary in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Datacard Group, USA, world leader in card
personalization systems with over 90 per cent market share, has announced the
setting up of its fully-owned, $1 million subsidiary in Bangalore, to develop
strategic software components and systems for its global product lines.

The center has already completed projects in front-end
technology areas like biometric enrolment and authentication, image and color
management workstations, security and object servers for smart card
personalization among others, according to a release.

Talking to newspersons after opening of their new software
development center, set up on par with the five other software development
centers around the world, vice president, Datacard Group, Mr. Jim Goodland,
said, "The center is focussed on developing strategic software components
for Datacard's global product lines"

Managing Director of Datacard India, Srinivasan R Rao, said
the center has begun work on software for the next generation Datacard high-end
machines, multi-application smart card systems and image/color management
platforms, leveraging Indian software skills combined with leading edge
technologies. The center has been focusing on product development as opposed to
"services" since its inception in November 2000, he noted.

The center will begin making profits from fiscal year 2002
with revenues of $2.6 million and operating profits of $410,000 which will
almost double by fiscal year 2005. It plans to close the current fiscal year
with revenues of $200,000. The number of technical staff, which is expected to
reach 45 by April 2001, will also go up to 75 by 2003.

The $310 million Datacard Corporation offers a range of
card-related products and services to financial institutions, government
agencies, corporations, healthcare providers, educational institutions,
retailers, transportation systems, telecommunication providers, insurance
companies and service bureaus. Everyday, more than seven million cards including
500,000 smart cards are personalized using Datacard systems, said the release.