The Midland Bank’s smart card trial at Loughborough University has been extended for a further year to take the card off campus and extend usage to launderettes and payphones: the trial began in October 1989 and cards were allocated to 1,000 students who used them in University shops and bars; Midland says that the trial has been extended as a result of student demand; 87% of card holders said they wished to use the cards outwith the University; the contactless card was developed by GEC Plc, and provides electronic purse, debit, and statement facilities, a personal identification number, and viewdata facility that logs into Prestel and Thomas Cook information services.
