Axalto

Axalto describes itself as "...the world's leading provider of microprocessor cards... and a major supplier of point-of-sale terminals. Its 4,500 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries, with worldwide sales exceeding 2.8 billion smart cards to date." 

Axalto and biometric ID cards and passports
In October 2004, according to Bloomberg News, Axalto announced that "it had won a contract from the U.S. government to supply components and software for testing systems for new passports that could be scanned electronically. The company, based in Montrouge, France, will immediately deliver passport covers with embedded chips, card readers and software for testing to the U.S. Government Printing Office, the company said." 

Axalto was a co-sponsor of ID Cards: Towards Procurement and Implementation, a one-day conference organised by the IT lobbying body Intellect and held in London on June 6, 2005.

SourceWatch resources

 * Biometrics
 * Companies with an interest in the UK ID cards programme
 * ID Cards: Towards Procurement and Implementation
 * UK National Identity Cards Scheme