Is contactless smart card technology the same as RFID?
No. There is often confusion in discussions of RF-enabled applications, with contactless smart card technology often incorrectly categorized as ‘RFID.’ There is a wide range of RF technologies used for a variety of applications – each with different operational parameters, frequencies, read ranges and capabilities to support security and privacy features. For example, the RFID technologies that are used to track objects in inventory operate over long ranges (e.g., 25 feet) and have minimal built-in support for security and privacy. Contactless smart cards, on the other hand, use RF technology, but, by design, operate at a short range (less than 4 inches) and are highly secure. Contactless smart cards are currently being used for secure identity applications worldwide.
