Smart card and smart card connector

A smart card connector 2 for use with a smart card 100 includes both data contacts 12 and normally open end position contacts 12'. The smart card 100 includes both data contact pads 102 and at least one end position contact pad 104 positioned to engage the end position contacts 12'. When the smart card is fully inserted in the connector card slot 10 so that the data contacts 12 are aligned with the data contact pads 102, two normally open end position contacts 12' engage the end position contact pad 104. The two end position contacts 12' are then electrically commoned to provide a signal to a card reader that the smart card 100 is fully inserted and data communication can begin between the smart card 100 and the card reader. Both the data contacts 12 and the normally open end position contacts 12' can comprise substantially identical cantilever beams mounted in the housing base of the smart card connector 2, and the end position contact pad 104 is laterally offset form the data contact pads 102.