Report: More than 400M smart cards delivered to government, healthcare sectors in 2008

Jan. 13, 2009
Smart card market expected to peak in 2009

According to a recent report issued by UK-based IMS Research, more than 400 million smart cards were shipped to businesses in the government and healthcare markets in 2008.

Though the market for smart cards is expected to peak in 2009, "The Worldwide Market for Smart Cards & Semiconductors in Smart Cards" report predicts that it will also fall into a temporary decline.

In a prepared statement, IMS Research analysts attribute the recent growth in the smart card market to the Chinese government’s implementation of a citizen ID program and say that after these cards have been delivered that there will naturally be a decline in market. However, the analysts also say that market will be picked back up by opportunities created within the aforementioned government and healthcare sectors.