BasicCard^(C) is a powerful, open operating system for smartcards. It is the first smartcard programmable in BASIC. It is easy to use, open to anyone, requires no special training, and competitively priced. Using the BasicCard OS for smartcard, anyone can program their own smartcard. All the tools you need to be a serious competitor are included in the BasicCard Toolkit. 

The BasicCard products are produced by ZeitControl GmbH.
MCS Electronics resels all BasicCard products.

Consider some of the benefits of using the BasicCard OS for smartcard...

Ease of Use:
With the BasicCard Toolkit, any programmer proficient in BASIC will be programming a smartcard in one day, even without prior smartcard experience.

Great Pricing:
A BasicCard smartcard with 8 KByte E˛Prom will cost 5,47 € in small quantities.

Fastest to market:
No other smartcard is faster to market. While others are working with outdated emulators and worrying about ROM, you will be demonstrating real products to your newest customers.

BasicCard Inventory:
You never know when a customer will approve a project - but when they do, you know they'll want smartcards fast. BasicCard integrators have the advantage of calling us for fast delivery from inventory.

Small Orders:
Many smartcard projects start small. So even if your customer's first order is only a hundred smartcards, you can count on us to fill it without problems.

You're In Control:
No more worries that your supplier might become your toughest competitor. With the BasicCard, you're in control - there are no proprietary "black-boxes". You programmed it yourself, it's your application, your customer, and with BasicCard you're in control.

Flexibility:
BasicCard offers virtually limitless opportunities. You can use it for the most smartcard applications like: an E-Purse, Identification Card, Medical Card, Internet Security, Drivers License Network Access, Software Key, Access Control, Gift and Loyalty programs - you decide.

Security:
For many smartcard applications security is the main concern, & with BasicCard you offer the best. Of course we supports standards like DES, & TripleDES, but now for unsurpassed security, you have the option of 1024-bit-RSA or 161-bit Elliptical Curve Cryptography for terminals and BasicCard.

How it Works
The BasicCard Toolkit includes everything you need to get started. Install the software and smartcard reader and you are ready to start.
Follow our examples or write your own application. When you are done, use the BasicCard compiler to convert your application to P-Code and load it to the E˛Prom of your BasicCard. You have just programmed your first smartcard. It is that simple!

BasicCard-Toolkit
This package includes all the software you'll need to start programming yourself. You will also get a PC/SC compatible smartcard reader/writer CyberMouse,  a small balance reader, a Enhanced BasicCard ZC3.7 (2 kByte E²Prom), and two Enhanced BasicCard ZC3.9 (8 KByte E˛Prom). The tools can be run under Microsoft^(C) Windows^(C) 95/98/NT. The Windows^(C) 95/98/NT software package contains a fully functional symbolic double debugger to step through the source code from the BasicCard and the PC simultaneously. The BasicCard Toolkit also includes an API for 32 bit Windows either as API for programming using C/C++ or as OCX for programming using Microsoft^(C) Visual Basic.

Why is BASIC the Smart Choice?
BASIC was originally developed when computers had no resources. That is exactly the same  problem what we have today with smartcards. So programmers needed a language suited to the limited computing resources - and here BASIC fit perfect. When you also take into account the limitations of smartcard microprocessors, BASIC becomes the smart choice. Sure, there are fancier programming languages, but when you are trying to program a smartcard, anything else is just show business.

In the end, the most important difference between a BasicCard and a Java^(C) or MultOS^(C) card is not the programming language - it´s the price. And the formula here is simple: the bigger the smartcard chip, the higher the price. Java^(C) and MultOS^(C) are resource-hungry, to run a simple application they need very expensive smartcard chips (i.e. 1 KByte RAM, 64 KByte ROM and 32 KByte E²Prom). Using the Compact BasicCard (256 bytes RAM, 8 KByte ROM and 1 KByte E˛Prom) costs 1/3 as much.

Here's How to Get Started:

1. Click  on the Free Download link below.

2. Download the BasicCard Software Tools Version: 4.xx. This will include a manual (Word File) and the programming software you'll need for Win95/98/NT.

3. Order to purchase the complete BasicCard Toolkit for 69 €. This will include a Developer Software Package for WindowsŽ on CD-ROM, a technical manual in printed form, a CyberMouseŽ smartcard reader/writer, a small balance reader and of course some programmable smartcards.

4. Don't wait. Start today. After you have ordered your BasicCard Toolkit, install the BasicCard Software Tools you just downloaded. Take a moment to review the manual and then start working with the programming tools. Review some of our examples and try writing an application yourself. Test your code using the Double Debugger and when your complete BasicCard Toolkit arrives, you will be ready to install the CyberMouseŽ smartcard reader/writer and load your first BasicCard application.