Buying something from the store can sometimes be tricky especially when you are buying a product for the first time. I am looking at you: CARS! I mean it could fall apart right away when your start using it. So, as consumers, we tend to look at brands for guidance or a trusted friend or family member. However, we are also wary of the countries to which the reader was made in such as China. We all tend to think that Chinese-made products are of cheaper build and represent thrift rather than quality whereas products made in the U.S. represent a higher quality thanks to the high labor standards here.

This is no different than when you are looking for smart card readers. There is no doubt that you can purchase a smart card reader from a Chinese manufacturer online. Alibaba more than likely has hundreds of listings. If you are looking for a smart card reader of higher quality then you should look no further than at what Tx Systems has to offer. There are many sellers out there who try to appeal to thrift which is shared by us all. Honestly, we all tend to have the desire to save money where we can especially today considering how high the inflation rate is in the U.S. I mean look at how high the gas prices are in California!

However, when it comes to the security of your business, you should not skimp on purchasing the best quality smart card readers that you can get. The sensitivity of your data cannot be trusted when the smart card readers are coming from Chinese companies. There have been multiple instances where the Chinese government has hacked into private U.S.-based corporations such as with users’ email through Microsoft and their Exchange Server.

*TO NOTE: HONG KONG IS UNIQUE BECAUSE OF ITS PAST LINKAGE TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MEANING THAT IS HAS MANY FREEDOMS THAT THOSE ON THE MAINLAND DO NOT HAVE.

With that being the case, we offer multiple types of smart card readers from the largest manufacturers in the entire industry such as:

As a sign of safety, these smart card readers are not manufactured in China for TAA-compliant readers but rather are made in countries such as Germany, Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. On top of that each of these companies have extensive decades-long expertise in securing customer data through groundbreaking technologies. So look for these brands when shopping for a new smart card reader as they ensure both reliability and assurance for your personal data.

Well then, what brand stands as the dominant, world-leader in contactless access control credentials and readers with extremely strong brand recognition ? Well, that would be HID Global!

This Irvine, California-based cybersecurity company founded in 1991 as Hughes Identification Devices has technology solutions used in more than 100 countries over 2 billion trackable objects. It is a 650 employee manned-subsidiary of ASS ABLOY AB which has a over $3.2 billion of revenue in the locking solutions sector. It is a leader in the delivery of secure identity and logical access cards.

It initially started as a pioneer in the RF technology space for physical access control with a focus on proximity cards and credentials in the 1990’s. They would eventually move onto acquire companies allowing them to expand their technological reach which included the iCLASS smart card in 2002. Thus, introducing smart card technology and stronger encrypted security in the mix with a focus on the 13.56 MHz range. The iCLASS became the No.1 selling contactless smart card brand in the world and has seen been surpassed by MIFARE and SEOS. To see how far HID has come since starting in 1991, take a look at The Evolution of Smart Card Technologies.

Much of their product are manufactured in Mexico and in their headquarters in Austin, Texas. Their research and development is completed in their Denver labs with the testing of smart card configurations.

HID Global believes in quality for all their smart cards and readers as they are champions of Kanban, Kaizen and Lean Principles which ensures higher quality for their customers by implementing a process environment. Lean manufacturing centers around placing the customer first at all aspects of the manufacturing process through increased efficiency and organization. The final product that you will receive will have your presence in mind.

Many of the smart card readers that HID manufacturers tend to have similar protective features that will prevent your reader from failure and electrical fluctuations. These include:

Smaller form factor readers such as the HID OMNIKEY 3021 Contact Smart Card Reader make it less likely that you will bump the smart card reader off your desk as it rests facing down on your desk similar to a desktop PC case making it much more flat. It may slide off the desk but bumping it over with your shoulder is less likely to happen. So, this would be the choice for your if your elbows tend to whack whatever is in site.

On a positive note, each of the smart card readers tend to have a fairly long USB cable with an average of 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length. You will likely catch the reader before it hits the ground.

Smart Card Readers for Desktop (FLAT) Usage:

** Bases and stands are included on some models to prevent tipping over. **

For example, the HID OMNIKEY 3121 Contact Smart Card Reader includes a heavy base (Tx Systems has you covered with that!) that feels like a brick, so there is no chance that your elbow will tip it over! This would be ideal for vertical insertion or horizontal insertion. You also have a mounting option with the included 3M sticker which will keep it in place on your desk for horizontal card insertion if you want to place it on the file cabinet.

Smart Card Readers for Upright Usage:

Smart Card Readers for On-The-Go Use:

HID Global also manufacturers physical access control readers, smart card reader boards, security keys and smart cards which we sell through our Tx Systems website.

Embedded Applications:

PACS (Physical Access Control):

Smart Cards:

Security Tokens:

The HID OMNIKEY 5025 Contactless ID Badge Reader is made with a polycarbonate housing meaning that it can handle a bit of roughhousing. You can also include an adhesive plate to keep it sticking on your desk or the side of your PC case. The screw mount (mounting jacket) offers a more permanent and reliable solution when the adhesive dries out.

So even with the Chinese readers beckoning you with their smart card readers, you can rest assured that this smart card reader will be able to face the bumps and falls that happen upon it .

What are some regulatory standards that HID products conform to ?

Plus, most of the readers conform to regulatory standards such as FCC, CE, UL and VCCI, so you will not have to worry about a haphazard construction that catches fire because of wiring shorts destroying your computer because of electrical fluctuations. You should not also be concerned about the usage of toxic chemicals such as lead when handling the smart card reader. This has noticeably been seen in other industries. For example, toys which originate mainly in China were in the news before because of toxic lead paint. There were several instances in 2007 where large corporations such as Dollar Tree and Jo Ann’s recalled their toy product lines and garden tools because of lead concentrations that were higher than federal standards.

Lead paint on the outside casing means inward absorption. This is because each time you touch, for example, the smart card reader with your hands, you would be absorbing lead into them. From there, it would travel via your blood stream to the rest of your body. A high concentration of lead is detrimental to the you.

It is recommended that you also do your own research. Make sure to take a look at the included datasheets for each smart card reader if you want to learn more about the regulatory standards that these products meet. You will be surprised to note how committed HID and other smart card manufacturers are to delivering superior product that exceeds expectations. Most of these standards are voluntary, so HID Global made the choice as a company that these would be beneficial to have. These standards are usually located within the “Compliance Regulatory” section. Luckily, a simple Google Search ( “CE Certification” ) will reveal what each of the standards means, but in summary, many of them are in regards to product quality, operational ability, electrical functioning and data security. Over time, you will notice many of the same symbols on multiple types of products (Mice, keyboards and even a GPS) as these have become a standard within the industry.

In addition to these internal features. HID promises that there is a MINIMUM of 100,000 smart card insertions before it starts to falter. Imagine, how many times you put a smart card into your reader? If you use it five days a week for work and maybe twice per day for logging in and out of your desktop, that would equal 10 times per week and 40 times per month. Over the course of a year, you would have 480 smart card insertions. In order to get to 100,000 smart card insertions, it would take about 208 years to do so. So, I think you have more than enough time with your smart card reader. Heck, you will have to wait about two centuries for it to fail.

With all this in mind from strong durability, countless smart card insertions and a dedication to continuous improvement, HID Global is the brand that you can trust and stand by for all your physical and logical access needs. We have multiple smart card readers and smart cards available on our store, take the next step forward today to begin your journey to a more secure future.

If you need support for your HID smart card reader, we have your back with our experienced technical support team available from Monday through Friday (8 am to 5 pm) at 858-622-2004 or techsupport@txystems.com.