Fifteen months after introducing the first mass market smart payment card in the US, American Express is gearing up to distribute computer keyboards with smart card access. The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard will be available to Blue cardholders for a discounted price of $59.95. AmEx will continue to offer free its current peripheral smart card reader for those customers who choose to have an additional hardware device. For individuals and small businesses that are not customers of Blue, the new keyboard will be available for $77.00. The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is a full-sized, 104-key keyboard with the smart card reader located on the right-hand side of the keyboard. When Blue cardholders shop online they insert their card into the smart card reader and are prompted to enter a PIN. The digital certificate stored on the Blue smart chip is read once the PIN is verified. The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard meets smart card industry standards, including EMV and PCSC. Cardmembers of Blue and Blue for Business can order the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard at www.americanexpress.com/blueforbusiness/gotblue. Requirements include Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT along with 5MB of disk space, 8MB of RAM and a serial port connection. For individuals and small businesses that are not customers of Blue from American Express may order the keyboard at www.directplus.compaq.com.