NXP Launches Limited Use MIFARE IC with Open Standard Cryptography

The MIFARE Ultralight C complements the MIFARE Ultralight family of cost-efficient ICs, which provides an ideal replacement for conventional paper tickets. It facilitates an easy implementation into contactless applications for events, loyalty vouchers and limited use transportation tickets. MIFARE Ultralight C offers extended user memory compared to MIFARE Ultralight, easy integration into existing MIFARE infrastructures and a range of additional security features previously unavailable on disposable tickets.

“NXP introduced MIFARE Ultralight ICs into the market in 2001 and since then over 800 million chips have been sold, enabling transport operators to successfully move to fully contactless systems combining smart cards and smart paper tickets”, said Henri Ardevol, general manager, automatic fare collection, NXP. “The MIFARE Ultralight C underlines NXP’s leadership in the contactless security segment by significantly stepping up security levels for disposable ticketing solutions and providing operators with a number of unique features against fraud and enables them to expand their service offering.”

Smart paper ticketing offers transport operators and event organizers increased reliability within the contactless systems, reduced maintenance costs and operation expenses when compared with traditional solutions based on magnetic stripes, paper tickets or coins. Occasional users enjoy the same contactless convenience as season ticket holders such as an improved service, additional payment options and faster transaction times. Contactless infrastructures significantly reduce queuing time and increase throughput for all users.

With MIFARE Ultralight C, NXP has created a cost-effective chip which incorporates a number of security features to protect the integrity of the ticket. Its open standard 3DES hardware for authentication protects the data access and allows solution providers the flexibility to determine which parts of the user memory they want to protect when designing new applications.

Beyond automatic fare collection, low cost contactless ICs are being increasingly used within other implementations, for example the features of the MIFARE Ultralight C make it suitable for pre-paid applications such as gift cards and vouchers. Its 16-bit counter facilitates the application design for solutions providers and can be used as value counter in pre-paid environments and as trip counter in transportation systems.

MIFARE Ultralight C is certified to the ISO/IEC 14443 A standard and has been designed to be suitable for emerging NFC Forum Tag 2 applications, such as URL linking, Bluetooth pairing and smart posters, which can be accessed with NFC enabled mobile devices.