[nraynaud]

you don't even require a connection, you can do an offline transaction, and it's still safer than a magnetic stripe, because duplicating a chip quickly is very hard.

Calling the bank to get an authorization is just an optional step in the process.

[DavidJRobertson]

Technically it's possible for some cards to mandate online authorization (ie 'phoning' the bank).

[nraynaud]

oh, yeah true, Visa Electron and friends.