Briefs

Sony develops biodegradable smart card TOKYO - Officials at Sony Corp. said the company has created a contactless smart card made from biodegradable plastic or a plant derived material. The smart card is made from polyactic acid mixed with special additives. But despite its make-up, chips embedded between sheets of the plastic can still transmit signals. The smart cards are also as strong as their oil-based plastic counterparts. Sony Corp. and Mitsubishi Plastics worked together to develop the material for the smart card. It’s unclear when the product may hit the market, due to the cost to make the biodegradable plastic. Amag, NetVersant team up TORRANCE, Calif. - Amag Technology and NetVersant Solutions have entered into a strategic partnership that will leverage each company’s complimentary security offerings. Under the terms of the agreement, Amag Technology will be NetVersant’s preferred access control systems vendor and NetVersant will become an Amag value-added reseller. GVI Security reports loss associated with building business CARROLLTON, Texas - GVI Security Systems reported in its second quarter results an $1.8-million loss in operating expenses, the result of costs associated with operating the company more than doubling. Company officials said GVI Security, which went public earlier this year, incurred the loss due to increased salaries and wages associated with new hires and the staffing of its Enterprise Solutions Group. The refinancing of its working capital facility and costs associated with being a public company also contributed to the loss. Despite extra costs, the company said revenues increased approximately 17 percent compared to last year’s numbers, from $12.8 million to $14.9 million, as the company saw product sales increase.