ISO Type A and Type B update

Message to Calypso implementors:

To safeguard supply chain resilience, ensure your terminal infrastructure supports both ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B

The ISO/IEC 14443 standard specifies the transmission protocols between card and reader to create interoperability for contactless smart card products.

Within this standard, cards can be either Type A or Type B. ISO/IEC TS 24192, which complements this standard for certification, obliges terminals to be compliant with both.

The two types have minor technical differences in terms of radio communication, with both providing high end microprocessors and security.

Historically, bank cards have been based on Type A,  and transport based on Type B. Due to the large volume of bank cards produced, the market – and chip manufacturers – tend to develop new products using Type A.

To reflect the market environment and leverage economies of scale in the manufacturing process, Calypso networks that have used Type B cards can easily adjust their readers to also accept Type A cards.

In most cases, this can be achieved through a simple software setting to the built-in reader within the existing terminal infrastructure.

CNA recommends that all implementors activate this setting to ensure broad acceptance of both card types.

Furthermore, the Contactless Interface Certification for Public Transport Products issued by CNA Paycert already guarantees the ability of contactless equipment to process both Type A and Type B Calypso media.

To find out more, contact us today.