Since September 2004, all Finnish electronic identity (EID) cards have been embedded with a microchip which stores the on-board certificates used for electronic identification. Setec said its new card is based on a Java Card operating system and a more powerful 64k Java-based smart card.
The new card uses Java technology to enable future uploading of new applications on the chip.
Integrating Java into the Finnish EID card provides a technological basis to deliver improved public services to all citizens, commented Jukka Yliuntinen, senior vice president of Setec’s Government & Business unit.
The EID card is voluntary in Finland and is valid for five years. The new card can also be used as an official travel document instead of passport in several European countries, and it can also be combined with the Sickness Insurance Card.
