Nominations Open for Smart Card Alliance 2010 OSCA Awards

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, April 19, 2010 – The Smart Card Alliance today opened nominations for its prestigious “Outstanding Smart Card Achievement” (OSCA) awards, announcing two new categories honoring innovative products and services in payments and security markets.  The 2010 OSCA awards will be presented during the Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference, May 17^th through the 20^th at the Camelback Marriott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

“North America has been leading the smart card industry in recent years, with some of the most exciting new innovations for payments and security being developed, piloted and deployed in this region,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance.  “With the OSCAs, we recognize those companies and individuals that have been vital to these achievements, and showcase them to the world.”

All specific criteria for each award, as well as eligibility requirements and nomination forms, can be found on the Smart Card Alliance OSCA award Web site.  All nominations must be received by April 26, 2010.  Nominations are open in four award categories – three for organizations and one for an individual:

• Outstanding Issuing Organization Award.  This award will be presented to an organization that is issuing smart card technology to its internal clients or external customers for their use in North America.

• Outstanding Innovation in Payments Technology Award.  This award will go to an innovative new, or existing payments-related product or service using smart card technology for use in a payments application. 

• Outstanding Innovation in Security Technology Award.  This award will go to an innovative new, or existing security-related product or service using smart card technology for use in an identification, authentication, or access security application.

• Outstanding Individual Leadership Award.  This award will be presented to an individual who stands out for his or her individual contributions to the smart card industry in North America based on a professional record of leadership, vision, support and commitment to the smart card industry.

A judging panel, consisting of North American smart card industry suppliers and end-users along with individuals from the analyst and media communities, will review all qualified OSCA applications and select three finalists in each category based on the nominee’s merits and qualities outlined in the applications.  The judging panel will apply a score for each nominee that will rank the three finalists in each category and the combined results will determine the winner, the runner-up, and the honorable mention award winners for 2010. 

The 2010 OSCA winners will be announced at the Smart Card Alliance Gala Awards Dinner on Tuesday, May 18th at the Camelback Marriott Hotel in Scottsdale.  The 2009 OSCA Award winners are on the Smart Card Alliance Web site.

The Smart Card Alliance 2010 Annual Conference will address “Smart Cards in Action,” focusing on the issuers and users of smart card technology in payments, security, and mobile markets.  Further information about the conference, with links to event information and registration web site containing the complete agenda, list of exhibitors and registered attendees to date, and full registration details are available on the Smart Card Alliance Web site.   

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology. 

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought.  The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America.  For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.

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