Open Source Operating System For Smart Cards

Scott writes "The OSNews site refers to a new open source operating system for smart cards, and more specifically adapted for contactless and dual-interface chips. This operating system named jayaCard ('success card' in malaysian ?) is compatible with ISO 7816 and ISO 14443. It is currently ported to freely available microprocessor like the ATmega161/162 from Atmel. A simulator version for Windows and Linux is already available and the full cleanroom source code can be inspected at Sourceforge. It should be noted also that although still in alpha version, this software is more complete, more standard, more complex but as more ambitious as SOSSE, the first available OS of this type."

ummm ok

[standsolid]

that's cool and all,..but what are smartcards exactly?
I was looking all over the site and all I could make of it was that they were cards with microprocessors that could be contactless?
I did find this [javaworld.com] and it told me that it could be storage medium or a microcomputer, Could these be really cool ways to add a second or third CPU to my box??

oh yeah, check this [smartcardalliance.org] out too

404'ed!

Re:ummm ok

[Anonymous Coward]

In the unlikely case that you were not trolling, just clueless [smartcardalliance.org]

Re:ummm ok

[droopycom]

Actually, he is probably just American... They have never heard of it there until recently when some credit card company (American Express ??) introduced a news credit card with a chip inside.

As far as i know they are mainly used in France where ALL credit/debit/ATM cards are smartcard as well as all prepaid phone cards (all public phone are equipped with a reader)

Once again the French have demonstrated great technology.... but as usual they have not been able to export it.

Re:ummm ok

[standsolid]

No, I'm American AND clueless.

hooray!

Thanks to AC for the link

Re:ummm ok

[standsolid]

Dear God I'm an idiot

Thanks for the link, I couldn't find that I guess.

So it's like Cell Phone SIM chips or Sattellite TV Access Cards. Yeah I'm a dumbass.

hate to get all meta, but...

[Valar]

this software is more complete, more standard, more complex but as more ambitious as SOSSE, the first available OS of this type."

You are called editors for a reason. EDIT!

Please, for the children.

Re:hate to get all meta, but...

[Drantin]

It is currently ported to freely available microprocessor like
Missed one ;)

But...

[Brandybuck]

But until they standardize on either KDE or GNOME, it will never go mainstream!

hmm

[OwlofCreamCheese]

I like open source, people can find bugs and patch them... or at least get them patched. I sort of worry about it on things like this, because people can still find bugs and test how to exploit them, but not really patch them easily. I guess thats security through obsucrity. but I guess when its my money I want as many "security through _____" as I can get, even if some of them suck royally.