What is causing delay in implementing Java as the standard for interoperable smart cards?
Java is all card manufacturers’ undisputed interoperable language of choice for running multi-application smart card platforms. It is the most secure general purpose language that allows multiple applications to share smart card resources. Nearly all smart card application providers using another interpreted language have announced commitments to Java. Nevertheless, because Java would not run with acceptable performance on a simple PC/AT, smart card components and operating systems needed to be retooled to offer correct response time at an acceptable price. This effort is now well underway, beyond the existing evaluation tools, and is available to 8-bit and 32-bit micro-controllers. Commercial products for large roll-outs should be soon available. Java, however, is only a language, and even though an API has been defined by the Java Card Forum, applications are still defined “at the interface” between the smart card and the terminal, using conventional command exchanges. Most times, th
