Gemalto has unveiled a dual interface EMV chip payments card aimed at US citizens travelling abroad.
The French vendor says Americans are increasingly having trouble using magnetic stripe cards abroad, especially in offline applications like unattended ticketing kiosks.
It has responded with its World Traveller programme for US banks and card issuers, which includes design, production and personalisation of EMV contact and contactless dual interface cards.
Jack Jania, GM, secure transactions, Gemalto North America, says: "Cardholders expect to be able to use their payment card anywhere in the world. Gemalto's World Travel card product and service portfolio allows US card issuers to fulfil this expectation with globally accepted smart payment cards ensuring the ability to make secure payments anywhere their customer's travel."
Aite Group recently estimated that nearly 10 million Americans experienced problems using their credit cards abroad in 2008 alone, a majority of which changed their behaviour as a result.
For cardholders travelling to Western Europe over the past three years, there is an almost 50% chance that they have experienced some form of problem using a US payment card, says the analyst house.