California-based Kena Kai has launched a new line of DataSafe wallets for men and women designed to protect the new 'smart card' credit cards from wireless identity theft.

The DataSafe line incorporates radio-frequency (RF) shielding material to protect the data on the growing number of credit cards that feature new ‘Contactless Smart Card Technology‘ that are designed to make purchases more convenient. The user no longer has to actually swipe their card as they can simply wave it in front of a 'reader' to make a purchase and, according to the May 2005 Nilson Report, there should be 15 to 20 million Visa and MasterCard contactless chip cards in the market by the end of 2006.

The wallets are designed to complement the inherent security and encryption of the newer generation cards by protecting them from wireless identity theft. The line will include bi-folds, tri-folds, credit card wallets, women's wallets, and passport holders in full-grain Italian leather.