EE Times Reports European Central Bank Plans to Embed Electronics in Paper Euros

PRNewswire
MANHASSET, N.Y.
Dec 19, 2001

EE Times, the industry news source for engineers and technical managers, reports today that the European Central Bank's plans to embed tiny circuits and transmitters in paper Euro banknotes as a way to prevent counterfeiting and track illegal cash transactions.

Veteran consumer electronics editor Junko Yoshida describes how the ECB is working with at least two major European semiconductor manufacturers to embed radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips into what could be billions of Euro bills. These electronically-tagged paper bills are expected to be introduced by 2005.

Experts were noted as saying the move would be a fundamental departure from conventional security measures used for paper currency, such as holograms, foil stripes, micro-printing and watermarks.

The technology used would be a knock-off of "smart labels" and "contactless cards" now used to tag airline luggage, library books and other products.

The report can be viewed on EE Times' website, http://www.eetimes.com/. An expanded version of the story will appear in EE Times' December 26 print edition.

EE Times is a technology and business newsweekly serving the information needs of more than 160,000 engineers and technical managers. EE Times.com and its specialized online communities, such as Planet Analog, EEdesign.com, CommsDesign.com and The Work Circuit, average more than 400,000 unique visitors and 1.5 million page views each month. The EE Times Network is published by CMP Media LLC, headquartered in Manhasset, NY.

CMP Media LLC (http://www.cmp.com/) is a leading high-tech media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum-the builders, sellers and users of technology worldwide. Capitalizing on its editorial strength, CMP is uniquely positioned to offer marketers comprehensive, integrated media solutions tailored to meet their individual needs. Its diverse products and services include newspapers, magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, trade shows and conferences, custom publishing, testing and consulting.

   For more information
   Steve Paul
   EE Times Director of Marketing
   (781) 839-1326
   spaul@cmp.com

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SOURCE: CMP Media LLC

Contact: Steve Paul, EE Times Director of Marketing, +1-781-839-1326, or
spaul@cmp.com

Website: http://www.eetimes.com/

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