Bull signs agreement to anticipate world smartcard market

France's leading printer of official documents, Imprimerie Nationale, this week teamed up with security software company, Bull, to bid for governmental smartcard contracts - in France and abroad.

The two companies want to be ready to supply secure chip-based cards for ID cards, driving licences and vehicle registrations.

As yet, no government has put out a call for tenders, although the European Commission's E-Europe initiative is promoting the use of smartcards in government. Imprimerie Nationale and Bull predict the e-government market will require 100 million cards by 2003.

A spokeswoman for Bull Smart Cards & Terminals said: "The Imprimerie Nationale already has relationships with its equivalents in other countries. Every time there is a call for tender anywhere in the world, these two companies can put in a bid together."

Portugal recently introduced a smart card for paying taxes through ATM machines. The spokeswoman added: "Malaysia is the most advanced and is thinking quite seriously about this."