Are you thinking about integrating a new card system into your company or building? If so, Mifare is a great place to start! Mifare cards have a rich history, and they’re used pretty much everywhere in Australia. In order to make the right decision for your company, you need to know what exactly you’re investing in. Read on for a full rundown on Mifare cards…
What is a Mifare card?
Mifare cards are frontrunners in contemporary smart card technology. It gets its name from the full term, MIkron FARE Collection System, which was created by the company NXP. Mifare makes passive RFID cards, and sometimes tags, that can be read by a reader with radio frequency communication. Mifare is a small chip, and therefore, it can be inserted into a whole range of different products, big and small. This chip can be integrated into cards, wristbands, tags, fobs and phones – just to name a few! Mifare has now been established in over 70 countries and is believed to be used by around about 1 billion people, so it’s safe to say that the technology is well tried and tested! When the card is presented to a reader, it sends out radio frequencies, allowing the reader to digest the unique information on the passive card and granting the holder access, or whatever the primary function of the scan might be.
What are the benefits?
A few key benefits of Mifare cards include…
They allow multiple application uses and reads.
It’s incredibly difficult and rare for a Mifare card to be duplicated.
A Mifare chip can be inserted into a number of different objects, meaning you don’t have to settle for just cards if you don’t want to.
Each card has its own individual serial number.
They don’t have to be inserted into a reading system, making them quick and convenient.
What can Mifare cards be used for?
Just about anything, really! Mifare cards can be used as hotel keys, membership cards, IDs, student IDs, micropayment devices, road tolling, tickets for an event, transport or mobiles, smart metres, access cards for museums or airports, health cards or rentals. The possibilities are far and wide when it comes to uses for Mifare technology! Access, payment, identity and ticketing are generally the most common uses for a Mifare chip – chances are, you’ve come into contact with one a fair few times in the past few days!
Are there different types of Mifare cards?
Yes, there certainly are! The different types of Mifare cards include…
MIFARE Classic: The classic works as a memory storage chip. This memory is segmented into blocks, with simple mechanisms that allow secure access. You’ll find that these are used often for IDs, travel and transport cards and ticketing. This is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to implement Mifare for an identity security system in your workplace or building.
MIFARE Plus: This is one of the leading models for contactless cards, these are an upgrade on the classic and offer higher rates of data integrity. You’ll find plus technology in carpark and tolling systems, transport ticketing and access control cards.
MIFARE DESFire: The DESFire enables the speedy and secure transmitting of data. This is the most advanced and sophisticated version of Mifare available, used often for micropayments, school ID cards, loyalty and membership cards and for secure access management.
MIFARE Ultralight: This one has far less memory than all the above options, making them great for mass, cost-effective card production. These are most often used for disposable ticketing for car parks, festivals and sporting events. The Ultralight has great value.
