A contact pad carrier strip includes a substrate having a lateral extent of or substantially of 35 mm or a multiple of or substantially of 35 mm, and at least three smart card contact pads formed along the lateral extent of the substrate. The contact pads are aligned widthwisely across the lateral extent of the substrate. Each smart card contact pad includes a plurality of contacts. A majority of contacts of the contact pads are oriented to extend widthwisely across the lateral extent of the carrier strip.