Applus+ Laboratories obtains the qualification to test EMV L1 version 3.0 for Proximity Integrated Circuit Cards (PICCs)

Applus+ IT Labs in Barcelona (Spain) has achieved the qualification of their test tool for EMV L1 version 3.0 only a month after obtaining the qualification for version 2.6. This was possible thanks to our experts’ high level of technical knowledge, and the collaboration with NI, the company who developed the test bench.

With this new qualification, Applus+ Laboratories can offer their services for two of the most requested versions by the payment schemes, to carry out the PICC EMV L1 testing with the most recent version of the NI tools.

The EMV Level 1 specification is aimed at PICC manufacturers, payment systems designers, and teams within financial organizations responsible for implementing banking applications. This specification describes the minimum functionality required to ensure the correct interoperability of the cards, independent of the application used.

Version 3.0 coexists with its predecessor (2.6) and, at testing level, the main difference is the use of more reference antennas. This change has an effect on the duration of the testing, and increases the product’s guarantees regarding interoperability and aligning with other standards.

After achieving the EMVCo qualification for conducting tests according to version 3.0 of the specification, we are expanding our capabilities in order to carry out PICC functional testing, being able to carry out both the certification process and the debugging sessions for this new version.

Collaboration with NI

Applus+ Laboratories made the decision to continue trusting NFC and Wireless Charging Group at NI when investing in a new tool to carry out the EMVCo L1 3.0 certification testing. After many years of collaboration, the experts at Applus+ Laboratories have consolidated their testing capabilities with NI equipment, which allows us to expedite the debugging sessions and the functional certification testing.

About the EMVCo payment scheme

Nowadays, EMVCo is one of the most important global payment schemes, the development of which has been led by the main companies in the sector (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Amex, among others). Certifying a product under the EMVCo scheme guarantees its functionality before its release to the market.
At Applus+ Laboratories, we have been testing under the EMVCo scheme for more than 15 years, and our teams are experts in the administrative and technical aspects of the certification process. At our international network of IT laboratories, we collaborate with our clients to find the most efficient solution to acquiring their product’s certification and debugging processes.