Technology Leaders to Solve Key Test and Certification Challenges

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France, October 31, 2008–Working to ensure the continued growth and acceptance of Near Field Communication (NFC), INSIDE Contactless, the world leader in advanced open-standard contactless chip technologies, and FIME, a leading smart card and terminal testing solutions provider, today announced they are joining forces in a partnership designed to speed up the attainment of NFC interoperability. Through this partnership, the two companies will combine their expertise and leadership to identify and resolve potential conflicts in the interoperability of NFC devices, and develop a comprehensive process, support and service portfolio for testing and certifying NFC mobile handsets.

Wave your mobile phone for the ultimate freedom to purchase

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Oct 30, 2008–RBC Royal Bank of Canada, Visa and Rogers Wireless have come together for the next phase of the mobile phone payment pilot, which will ultimately allow Canadians the flexibility to make purchases securely at the point of sale with a wave of their mobile phone. The customer phase of the mobile phone payment pilot is expected to launch in mid-2009, following a brief employee pilot.

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., October 30, 2008–The Smart Card Alliance today announced its 2008-2009 board and seven-member executive committee.

“The Smart Card Alliance is playing a significant role in influencing the smart card industry across government, enterprise, transit, payments and healthcare markets–all of which have seen remarkable growth this year,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “The executive committee and board members represent leaders in each of these markets, and are key in determining the Alliance direction in the upcoming year.”

Meets ever-increasing online customers demand for convenience and simplicity

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, October 30, 2008–Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today introduces Ezio Thin Reader, a revolutionary new miniature, easy-to-use authentication device for online banking. The credit card-sized reader fits in a wallet, so that users can carry it with them wherever they go. For online customers, having their authentication device and their banking card together at hand brings the ultimate in convenience. In addition, Ezio Thin Reader features a regular keypad to provide excellent usability. The device is compliant with the latest industry standards - MasterCard CAP¹ and Visa DPA² - and accepts any type of EMV smart cards. Gemalto will demonstrate Ezio Thin Reader at “Cartes & IDentification” next week.

Zurich, October 29, 2008–LEGIC Identsystems Ltd, leading provider of contactless smart card technology for personal identification, shows various innovative enhancements of its proven LEGIC advant technology platform at Cartes & Identification show in Paris. The leading fair for digital security and smart card technologies will be held form November 4 to 6 2008 in Paris-Nord Villepinte. In hall 4 at stand N72, LEGIC will demonstrate further developments of its technology as well as a multitude of LEGIC based applications.

BridgePoint Systems, San Leandro, CA and CoreStreet, Cambridge, MA Partner to Raise the Bar on FIPS 201 Physical Security Solutions

SAN LEANDRO, CA, October 21, 2008–The BridgePoint PACS with “Trust at the Threshold PKI™” is the first high-assurance FIPS 201 reader and PACS to implement digital certificate challenge and response and certificate validation for user authentication. The solution can be implemented in coordination with other vendor PACS or in a stand-alone mode.

More Highlights as Smart Card Alliance Government Conference Concludes

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Oct. 28, 2008–October 27th was deadline day for the four-year-old HSPD-12 initiative. Attendees at the Smart Card Alliance Smart Cards in Government Conference got a firsthand report Friday on the governmentwide credentialing program’s impressive results from a key figure in the program–Karen Evans, administrator of e-government and IT for the Office of Management and Budget.

Leiden 23 October, 2008–Collis Asia & Datacard Group join forces to offer customers solutions & expertise in EMV & e-Identification products & services.This collaboration brings comprehensive turn-key solutions for customers in the Asia Pacific Region,as two market leading forces form an alliance.

A compact, highly integrated and multi-standard contactless module

Sophia-Antipolis, October 23, 2008–ASK will unveil at Cartes show its latest contactless OEM device: the UCM108, a universal, multi-standard contactless module. This unique and flexible core module complies with ISO 14443 type A, B, B’ standard as well as Felica®, NFC and Mifare® protocols.

This worldwide innovation will first be launched in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Oct 27, 2008–Oi, the first quadri-play operator in Brazil, today announces that it will launch, in the first week of November, Windows Live Messenger services built into Oi’s SIM card, in partnership with Microsoft and Gemalto. This worldwide innovation means that users who buy a new Oi SIM card will have direct access to Messenger functionalities in any Oi mobile phone. The new features will first be available for customers in all States where Oi operates.