PC-Linked Smart Card Readers: USB Contact Readers for Computers
Plug a reader into a computer, insert a smart card, and your software can read it.
BSD Infotech supplies ACS PC-linked smart card readers in India: the ACR39U, ACR40U and ACR40T. All three connect over USB, read contact smart cards to ISO 7816, and are PC/SC and CCID compliant, so they work with standard smart card software and with applications you build.
Talk to BSD Infotech
Tell us your card type, your operating system and how many readers you need. We will suggest a model and quote for your quantity.
What Is a PC-Linked Smart Card Reader?
The reader is the link between the card and your software. The card holds a chip, such as an ID, banking, PKI or memory card. The reader powers the chip through its contacts and passes commands and responses between the chip and the computer. Current models connect by USB. Older PC-linked readers also used serial and PCMCIA connections; they are listed in the legacy section below.
Current PC-Linked Smart Card Readers
Current ACS contact readers, all PC/SC and CCID compliant. Prices are BSD Infotech prices per piece, plus GST.
ACR39U-U1
Compact USB contact smart card reader for ISO 7816 Class A, B and C cards, with a fixed USB Type-A cable. Drivers listed for Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris and Android.
₹750 + GST
Other ACR39U variants are priced on the product page.
ACR40U
ACS’s newer compact USB contact reader, in USB Type-A and Type-C variants, with Standard and Premium (with stand) configurations. Firmware upgradable. Drivers listed for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android and Solaris.
₹2,300 + GST (Standard) · ₹2,400 + GST (Premium)
ACR40T
SIM-sized USB contact reader with a sliding card-entry slot, in USB Type-A and Type-C, with Standard and Premium (with button) configurations. Drivers listed for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, iPadOS and Android.
Price on request
Also available from BSD Infotech
ACR39T-A1
SIM-sized contact smart card reader for ISO 7816 cards, PC/SC and CCID compliant. ACS lists drivers for Windows, Solaris, Linux and macOS, and Android 3.1 and above.
Price on request
ACR39F-A2 Smart Floppy
Contact reader with one full-size ISO 7816 card slot, connected by USB and fitted into the 3.5″ floppy bay of a desktop computer. PC/SC and CCID compliant.
Price on request
ACR39U-W1 SmartDuo
USB contact reader with two independent card slots, so two smart cards can be used at the same time. Supports ISO 7816 Class A, B and C cards.
Price on request
Specifications from ACS product documentation. Contact BSD Infotech for price and availability.
Compare ACR39U, ACR40U and ACR40T
| ACR39U-U1 | ACR40U | ACR40T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card size | Full-size (ID-1) | Full-size (ID-1) | SIM-sized |
| USB connector | Type-A | Type-A or Type-C | Type-A or Type-C |
| Standards | ISO 7816, USB CCID, PC/SC | ISO 7816, USB CCID, PC/SC | ISO 7816, USB CCID, PC/SC |
| Driver platforms listed | Windows, Linux, macOS, Solaris, Android | Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Solaris | Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android |
| Configurations | Standard | Standard, Premium (with stand) | Standard, Premium (with button) |
| BSD price | ₹750 + GST | ₹2,300 / ₹2,400 + GST | On request |
Specifications are from ACS documentation, as published on each product page. Deciding between the two full-size readers? See the ACR39U vs ACR40U comparison.
Contact, Contactless and Dual-Interface Readers
Many readers plug into a computer by USB. What changes is how they read the card.
Contact (this page)
The card is inserted into a slot and read through its contacts (ISO 7816). ACR39U, ACR40U, ACR40T.
Contactless and NFC
The card is held near the reader and read by radio at 13.56 MHz, for example the ACR122U and ACR1552U. See all contactless and NFC readers.
Dual-interface
A contact slot and a contactless antenna in one reader, for example the ACR1281U-C1 and ACR1581U. Compare dual-interface readers.
Compare every reader technology on the Smart Card and RFID Readers page.
How a PC-Linked Reader Works with Your Software
Connect by USB
The reader is a USB CCID device. CCID-compliant readers can work as plug-and-play devices using the operating system’s standard CCID driver; ACS also provides drivers.
Software uses PC/SC
Applications find the reader and connect to the card through PC/SC, the standard interface between software and smart card readers.
Commands to the card
The application sends card commands and receives responses. The commands depend on the card, so the card’s reference manual matters as much as the reader.
Building or integrating software?
Our Smart Card Reader SDK and Integration page covers PC/SC, CCID, SDK tools, compatibility and troubleshooting. BSD Infotech also integrates readers into existing software.
Where PC-Linked Readers Are Used
Applications listed by ACS for these readers.
Not every application is listed for every model; see each product page.
How to Choose a PC-Linked Smart Card Reader
Card size
Full-size cards (bank-card size) need the ACR39U or ACR40U. SIM-sized cards need the ACR40T or ACR39T-A1.
Special form factors
To use two cards at once, choose the ACR39U-W1 SmartDuo. To fit a reader inside a desktop’s 3.5″ floppy bay, choose the ACR39F-A2 Smart Floppy.
USB port
For USB Type-C laptops and tablets, choose a Type-C variant of the ACR40U or ACR40T. The ACR39U-U1 is USB Type-A.
Operating system
All three list Windows, Linux, macOS and Android drivers. For iOS or iPadOS, the ACR40U and ACR40T list driver support.
Budget and volume
The ACR39U-U1 has the lowest listed price. For larger quantities, ask for bulk pricing on any model.
Pricing, Bulk Supply and Delivery
Prices and bulk orders
Listed prices are per piece, plus GST: ACR39U-U1 ₹750, ACR40U ₹2,300 (Standard) or ₹2,400 (Premium with stand). ACR40T pricing is on request. Contact BSD Infotech for bulk, dealer and project pricing, subject to current stock.
Orders ship the same day within Delhi NCR. For other locations across India, delivery typically takes 3 to 5 days depending on the courier service. Shipping begins once full payment is received.
Legacy PC-Linked Readers
Older ACS PC-linked readers, kept for existing users. Status is taken from ACS as recorded on our Smart Card and RFID Readers page. Where ACS has not named a replacement, we do not invent one.
| Model | Type | Status | Current option to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACR38 | USB contact reader | No longer available from BSD Infotech | Replaced by the ACR39U and ACR40U |
| ACR38U-CCID | USB contact reader (CCID) | No longer available from BSD Infotech | Replaced by the ACR39U and ACR40U |
| ACR38T | SIM-sized USB contact reader | End of life | ACR40T or ACR39T-A1 (SIM-sized) — confirm suitability |
| ACR38U PocketMate | Compact USB contact reader | End of life | ACS lists ACR39U-N1 / ACR39U-NF (PocketMate II) — confirm suitability |
| ACR38F Smart Floppy | Contact reader for a 3.5″ floppy bay | End of life | ACR39F-A2 Smart Floppy, available from BSD Infotech — confirm suitability |
| ACR92 | PCMCIA contact reader | End of life | Not named by ACS — ask BSD Infotech |
| ACR3801 | USB contact reader | End of life | Not named by ACS — ask BSD Infotech |
| ACR30SP | Serial (RS-232) contact reader | No reliable current status found | Ask BSD Infotech |
| ACR38DT DualKey / ACR38ET DualKey2 | SIM-sized dual-interface tokens (contact + contactless) | Not confirmed | These are dual-interface, not contact-only — ask BSD Infotech |
Other older reader types: smart card balance readers, smart card and fingerprint readers, readers with PIN-pad and readers with mass storage. Legacy ACS development kits are described on the SDK page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need PC-Linked Smart Card Readers?
Tell us the card, the operating system and the quantity. We will recommend a reader and send current pricing.