Short: PC/SC to develop smart-card standards

The PC/SC Workgroup, a group of PC and "smart card" companies including Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Schlumberger Electronic Transactions, announced they are working to develop open standards that will allow smart cards, smart-card readers, and computers made by different manufacturers to work together. This will let users purchase items online using information stored securely on their smart cards and let businesses have a single ID card that controls access to buildings and computer networks. The technology is scheduled to be available during the fourth quarter.