Smart Card Alliance

InterSwitch Selects Gemalto's Instant Issuance Solution to Accelerate Chip Migration for 30 Million Payment Cards in Nigeria

Smart Card Alliance — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:30:00 -0400

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, July 2, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced that InterSwitch is deploying its Dexxis Instant Issuance solution to accelerate chip migration in Nigeria. InterSwitch is a leading provider of secure electronic payment solutions in Nigeria and comprises 25 member banks. Chip migration is ramping up in the country and InterSwitch member banks will be replacing 30 million magnetic stripe cards in the next few years.

The Gemalto solution enables InterSwitch members to carry out on-the-spot personalization and delivery of chip cards to their customers, directly at their branches. With Dexxis Instant Issuance, banking customers leave the branch with their card in hand and start using it immediately, compared to an average two weeks timeline with conventional issuance. This means that all the cards delivered are actually used, making the investment fully productive for all stakeholders.

As part of the contract, Gemalto supplies the software that allows InterSwitch to offer the instant issuance service to its members. It also enables InterSwitch to provide its member banks with a turnkey solution to perform instant issuance themselves.

“We are very pleased with the continued business partnership we have established with Gemalto,” said Mitchell Elegbe, Managing Director, InterSwitch. “Gemalto has been assisting us in our transition to chip-and-PIN cards right from the start and Dexxis Instant Issuance will be a valuable asset to boost our migration project.”

“This is Gemalto’s 100th installation of a Dexxis personalization solution and we are proud to achieve this milestone with InterSwitch”, added Philippe Cambriel, Executive Vice-President of the Secure Transactions Business Unit at Gemalto. “Bolstered by our experience in personalization solutions across the world, we have been able to install and qualify the entire solution in just two months, enabling InterSwitch to offer the instant issuance service to its member banks in record time. Instant issuance, close to consumers in the regions, will clearly contribute to speeding up chip migration in.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work – anytime, anywhere – has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWA\Corporate
Rebekah Lahey
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 58
Mob : +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: rebekah.lahey@tbwa-corporate.com

MTN Mobile Payment Program Operational in Uganda with Gemalto

Smart Card Alliance — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:03:00 -0400

Leading African operator makes m-payment accessible to the great majority

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 30, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced it has been selected by MTN Uganda for its nationwide mobile payment program. Service rollout started in March 2009 and to date, around 180,000 m-payment transactions have already been performed.

MTN Uganda is part of the MTN Group, a multinational telecommunications group operating in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East and serving over 100 million subscribers, including 4.2 million in Uganda. Gemalto provided MTN Uganda with a comprehensive solution that includes the server for interconnecting the operator with its banking service provider, and the SIM cards storing and executing the m-payment application. The company also supplied server integration services and acts as technological partner of MTN Uganda.

The Gemalto solution provides a secure, convenient and affordable means for MTN Uganda subscribers to carry out peer-to-peer fund transfer using their mobile phone, whether or not they have a bank account. It also makes m-payment accessible to users who do not have an Internet access. An easy-to-navigate menu enables consumers to send and receive money, buy airtime, withdraw cash from a local retailer, with the security provided by the SIM card. Since the SIM card is the only application platform working with 100% of handsets, subscribers can perform m-payment transactions using any type of mobile phone, which means the service is immediately available to all.

“We selected Gemalto for its sound experience in deploying m-payment services in Africa,” commented Isaac Nsereko, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Uganda. “In addition, Gemalto has been a preferred supplier to the MTN Group for many years and we have established a trustful business relationship with the company.”

“Gemalto is proud to offer all MTN Uganda subscribers the freedom to transfer money when and where they want,” added Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice President of the Telecommunications Business Unit at Gemalto. “Because our solution is so easy to use and available to anyone who owns a handset, we believe in the rapid adoption of m-payment in Uganda as we make the service accessible to the great majority, banked or unbanked.”

About Gemalto

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWA\Corporate
Rebekah Lahey
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 58
Mob : +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: rebekah.lahey@tbwa-corporate.com

New printers, cards and inlays based on LEGIC from card manufacturer BadgeCom

Smart Card Alliance — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:43:00 -0400

Zurich, Switzerland, May 19, 2009 – BadgeCom GmbH, a supplier of card printers, credentials and personalisation services, is a new partner of LEGIC Identsystems Ltd. The results of the partnership are new printer and chip card solutions which incorporate the LEGIC contactless smart card technology. BadgeCom is thus reacting to the constantly high demand in Europe for LEGIC based products.

As a supplier of comprehensive card solutions, BadgeCom offers all the services associated with the introduction of chip card solutions, from card printers via plastic cards and accessories right through to personalisation services. These identification credentials are available as LEGIC cards and can be used by companies as multifunctional employee cards or in recreational facilities as integrated guest cards.

“The licensing partnership with LEGIC will strengthen our position throughout the European market”, says Gabriel Shiller, CEO of BadgeCom. “From now on our customers will be able to use a highly developed contactless technology which enables a large number of applications to be combined on a single card and at the same time fulfils the highest security requirements.”

Dr Otto Eggimann, Vice President Sales and Business Development of LEGIC, is convinced that both companies will benefit from the partnership: “Through the partnership with BadgeCom we are reinforcing our strong presence in the European area. The successful development of new LEGIC based product lines at BadgeCom shows that we can look forward to a profitable partnership together. Users take advantage of an expanded range of superior products in the LEGIC world.”

About LEGIC® Identsystems Ltd

LEGIC Identsystems Ltd, with headquarters in Switzerland, is the world leader in the design and manufacture of 13.56 MHz contactless smart card technology. The LEGIC product portfolio includes highly integrated LEGIC RF Standard, ISO 15693 and ISO 14443 compliant read/write chip sets, security modules and transponder chips.

LEGIC Identsystems currently works with over 200 external co-operation partners world-wide who offer compatible LEGIC all-in-one-card applications including access control, e-payment, parking, e-ticketing and other multiapplications. More than 1 million readers and over 70 million credentials are successfully integrated in more than 50,000 work and leisure places worldwide.

Security and comfort for high-ranking decision makers at the St. Gallen symposium

Smart Card Alliance — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:39:00 -0400

Zurich, Switzerland, June 4, 2009 – Top-level decision makers from economic, scientific and political spheres came together for the 39th St. Gallen symposium to discuss current economic topics over three days. Besides the World Economic Forum in Davos, this symposium represents one of the most important international economic events with participants from over 70 countries. Identification technology from LEGIC Identsystems Ltd was responsible for security within the grounds of the University St. Gallen as well as for the smooth administration of participants. Together with its partners, the company ensured the high security and efficient administration of the event. The high-ranking participants in the symposium enjoyed high comfort and perfect organisation.

LEGIC multi-application technology allowed different applications to be combined on a single card and enabled the participants to move around the university grounds easily and safely. After identification and registration at the entrance, visitors could use their identification badge at the administration terminals to sign up for the lectures and workshops at the symposium themselves. Waiting times were avoided thanks to the fully automated processes. The staff could therefore devote themselves entirely to looking after guests. In addition, as the organiser, the International Students’ Committee benefited from a better overview of the participants in the lecture programme as a whole. The cards were unanimously judged to be easy and intuitive to use.

“Opportunities for further use of the cards, e.g. as keys for electronic lockers or a medium for social networking functions among the participants, are currently under consideration,” says Arjun Muralidharan, IT strategy director for the St. Gallen symposium.

Progressive technology for a top international event

With their decision to choose LEGIC, the International Students’ Committee from the University St. Gallen also attested to the event’s overall high level of quality from a technological perspective. The St. Gallen symposium sees itself as a leading contributor to key issues in management, the entrepreneurial environment and the interfaces between economics, politics and civil society. For almost 40 years, the symposium has been conceived, planned and organised by the International Students’ Committee (ISC) and has established itself as an internationally renowned event in economic, political and social circles.

About LEGIC® Identsystems Ltd

MAN Diesel introduces multifunctional employee badge and uses latest LEGIC card-in-card solutions to integrate transponders supplied by third parties

Smart Card Alliance — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:37:00 -0400

Zurich, Switzerland, June 18, 2009 – In introducing a new employee badge, MAN Diesel has combined two contactless identification technologies on a single smart card chip. LEGIC card-in-card solutions, the virtual LEGIC advant transponder technology, are the technological core of the badges. The new card includes access control, time & attendance and cashless payments for more than 3,000 employees at MAN Diesel’s plant in Augsburg/Germany. What is more, German employees will also have access to factories in Denmark in future. On the other hand, Scandinavian colleagues can use their card to make payments at tills and vending machines in Augsburg. LEGIC card-in-card solutions run as secure applets on third-party smart cards. They make it possible to combine different contactless systems on a dual interface card and also support contact based applications such as logical access.

New LEGIC card-in-card solutions make it possible to store usual LEGIC applications of an employee card on a single dual interface smart card. The LEGIC card can thus be used in 9 shops, 8 canteen tills, 8 top-up stations, 44 vending machines and over 50 access control and time & attendance terminals supplied by various manufacturers.

In addition, the LEGIC card-in-card solutions also make it possible to integrate contactless applications into the existing technology platform in Denmark. MAN Diesel is reaping the benefits of a future-proof, convenient solution which can be deployed across multiple sites and be expanded flexibly to cater for further applications.

Alice Stiene, MAN Diesel’s Project Manager explains the advantages of the new cards: “When introducing a new employee card, the challenge was to combine technologies in a cost-efficient, future-proof way. After testing the market thoroughly, we opted for the innovative LEGIC card-in-card solutions, thereby making a considerable investment in our future. The technology not only enables us to take into account the differing basic requirements of our sites. The flexibility of LEGIC advant also enables us to add any number of additional applications to the employee card at a later date.”

Dr Otto Eggimann, Vice President Sales and Business Development at LEGIC, stresses the potential of LEGIC card-in-card solutions: “Our technology makes it possible to integrate contactless multi-applications on virtual LEGIC transponders in contactless or dual interface smart cards supplied by third parties. This way, physical and logical access systems, for example, can be combined on a single card.”

About LEGIC® Identsystems Ltd

Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council Update: contactless fare collection systems moving ahead, new council officers elected

Smart Card Alliance — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:56:00 -0400

PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ, April 27, 2009 – Transit authorities in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Tucson are continuing development of contactless electronic fare collection systems, while interest is growing for mobile NFC fare payments, the Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council said today. This news and more came out of the 2009 Payments Councils Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah, attended by over 120 Smart Card Alliance members. The Council also announced 2008 accomplishments, and its newly elected officers and steering committee.

The Summit coincided with the Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) launch of their system-wide implementation of contactless electronic fare collection system, where they will accept contactless third party paid passes and contactless credit and debit cards from American Express, Discover Financial Services, MasterCard and Visa. MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) is collaborating with the New York Port Authority, New Jersey Transit, and the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) on the second phase of their open payment system pilot where all types of contactless payment cards will be accepted, NYCT’s Steve Frazzini told attendees. Jerry Kane of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and Jenny Sirnio of SunTran in Tucson spoke of their plans for contactless fare collection systems.

Los Angeles Metro’s Jane Matsumoto told attendees of their pilot, a unique solution that utilizes Visa’s prepaid contactless payment card, the TAP card, to reach the under- or un-banked transit riders in Los Angeles. This dual application prepaid Visa debit card that can be used for both transit payment and general retail payment.

“We are seeing more transit agencies understanding the security and convenience that accepting contactless credit and debit cards directly as fare payment brings to travelers, as evidenced by the presentations we heard at the Summit,” said new Council Chair Craig Roberts, Utah Transit Authority. “These kinds of open transit fare collection systems that integrate payment and transit systems are paving the way for new kinds of technologies. NFC mobile payment, a technology that is based upon the same standard as contactless payment, was a much talked about topic at the event.”

The Council published three white papers last year, “Transit Payment System Security” (August 2008), “Serving Unbanked Consumers in the Transit Industry with Prepaid Cards” (June 2008), and “Co-Branded Multi-Application Contactless Cards for Transit and Financial Payment” (March 2008).

They can all be downloaded by visiting: http://www.smartcardalliance.org/pages/activities-councils-transportation.

“Our goal last year was to provide educational resources on the topics most relevant to what is happening in the industry right now,” said exiting Chair Paul Korczak, NYC Transit. “Therefore it was great to end the year at the Summit, hearing real-world updates on the topics we have been providing information and research on this past year.”

The Transportation Council is made up of 130 individuals from 56 organizations. Officers elected for the upcoming year are:

Chair - Craig Roberts, Utah Transit Authority
Vice chair, transit - Jerry Kane, SEPTA
Vice chair, parking - Ian Newberg, Parkeon

The Council Steering Committee members are:

David deKozan, Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc.
Jennifer Garcia, Discover Financial Services
Scott Henderson, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Linh Huynh, INSIDE Contactless
Michael Laezza, Thales Transportation Systems
Dennis Marshall, Chicago Transit Authority
Mike Nash, ACS
Brian Stein, Giesecke & Devrient
Faye Surrette, MasterCard Worldwide
Larry Weissbach, ERG Transit Systems

Non-voting members are: Mike Dinning, US Department of Transportation, Volpe Center; Paul Korczak, NYC Transit; and Martin Schroeder, American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

About the Transportation Council

The Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council is focused on promoting the adoption of interoperable contactless smart card payment systems for transit and other transportation services. Formed in association with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Council is engaged in projects that support applications of smart card use. The overall goal of the Transportation Council is to help accelerate the deployment of standards-based smart card payment programs within the transportation industry.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America.

For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.

CardLogix and charismathics have formalized their partnership

Smart Card Alliance — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:04:00 -0400

Irvine, California, June 22, 2009 – CardLogix, a leader in smart cards and software for secure digital authentication, and charismathics, a global leader in IT security components and identity management middleware, announced that they have formalized their partnership. charismathics is now a Smart Partner, supporting its solutions with CardLogix SIMs and smart cards. Together, these products form an ideal solution for securing identity on mobile handsets and other devices. The two companies combine extensive expertise in cryptography to produce solutions for digital authentication. These solutions fill an acute need for securing identity and data on mobile handsets as applications exponentially grow. Operators need authentication to protect against fraud and unauthorized use, and to assure customers that their personal data is safe and protected.

The CardLogix mobile telecom platform consists of SIMs, as well as operating system and development software, designed to speed development of mobile solutions of any kind, from NFC to Digital Signatures. CardLogix offers a choice of Java Card™, Native Delos™, and custom USIM operating systems, with a wide choice of capacities and functionalities. System development is streamlined with VirtuoSimo™ for universal wireless development, testing, and debugging; Geode™, for easy applet development; and S@T Manager, for quick creation of S@T scenarios through a user-friendly interface. charismathics features products such as iEnigma©, which provides an easy to use, flexible identity and security solution for mobile PDA cellphones, leveraging the functionality of a smart card to store and transmit encrypted data. iEnigma makes it easy to integrate two-factor authentication, e-mail and document encryption into mobile communications. iEnigma also allows users to utilize multiple digital identities and digital signatures to sign documents and protect their identity.

Bruce Ross, CardLogix CEO, commented that the partnership with charismathics secures mobile users in new ways, resulting in more choice and better technology for operators and their enterprise customers. “CardLogix smart card technology, combined with charismathics applets, enables operators to strongly differentiate their company and products”.

Today, cell phone and mobile handsets are used for online banking, access to social networking sites, e-mail, and online purchases. The smart phone is an extension of your digital world, linking you with your PC and Internet. The charismathics and CardLogix partnership brings to market solutions that increase security for your digital identity on smart phones and mobile handsets, enabling the use of hardware authentication methods.

“The partnership with CardLogix strengthens our commitment to the mobile market, offering customers solutions to increase security and manage their digital identity for mobile handsets”. Said Anthony Davis, Managing Director of charismathics, Inc. “Our strategy is to innovate and bring to market solutions that add levels of security that are transparent and easy to use for every smart phone user”.

About CardLogix Corporation

Founded in 1994, CardLogix is an ISO 9001/2000 Quality manufacturer of smart cards and software for the secure transaction of data and value. CardLogix smart card platforms empower applications such as Healthcare, Secure ID/Access, Mobile Telecom, Stored Value and Loyalty throughout the world, making every transaction safer and easier. Millions of customers in 36 countries trust CardLogix smart cards daily.

For more information, please visit http://www.cardlogix.com.

About charismathics

charismathics is a global leader in identity management software. Its premier product, the charismathics Smart Security Interface (CSSI), makes it cost-effective and easy for enterprises to integrate multiple authentication solutions into a single, transparent interface. Since 2003, charismathics has pioneered the field of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), introducing the first PKI client to support Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) and the first PKI client to support pre-boot environments. charismathics’ iEnigma software secures handheld devices such as the iPhone and iPod Touch and provides streamlined two-factor authentication for the enterprise. charismathics offers security products and PKI consulting in a variety of industries including banking and finance, healthcare, telecommunications, security, government and PC manufacturing.

For more information, please visit http://www.charismathics.com.

Gemalto First to Achieve Saudi Arabia Certification on GlobalPlatform Banking Card Compatible with Visa and MasterCard

Smart Card Alliance — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:57:00 -0400

Optelio supports seamless EMV migration with dual issuance for financial institutions in largest Gulf Region market, with over 10 million cards in use

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 3, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced that its Optelio banking card has been certified to the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) requirements. Optelio is perfectly suited for the local market, as it hosts the Saudi Payments Network (SPAN) application, the debit card functionality deployed in Saudi Arabia. The Gemalto product is also compatible with the GlobalPlatform specifications (the standard for smart card infrastructure), the Visa Electron and the Debit MasterCard and Maestro Card requirements, making it usable worldwide.

These certifications enable Gemalto to complete its existing Multos offer for the Saudi Arabian banking market, the largest in the Gulf Region with over 10 million debit cards in use, and to support local financial institutions in their EMV migration. Optelio lets dual-issuer banks seamlessly deliver either Visa’s VSDC or MasterCard’s M/Chip applications on the same product, with the flexibility offered by the GlobalPlatform standard. In the personalization phase, banks can implement either scheme using the same infrastructure, which significantly simplifies logistics.

“We are proud to offer this innovative and secure payment solution to Saudi Arabia,” commented Philippe Cambriel, EVP Secure Transactions Business Unit at Gemalto. “These certifications confirm that Gemalto has the widest portfolio in the industry, covering all applications and technology platforms.”

About Gemalto

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWA\Corporate
Rebekah Lahey
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 58
Mob : +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: rebekah.lahey@tbwa-corporate.com

Gemalto Launches Unique Optical Reader for Online Banking

Smart Card Alliance — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:08:00 -0400

With 30 million users, Germany has the largest number of online banking customers in Europe

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, June 24, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced commercial launch of Ezio Optical TAN, a unique optical authentication reader for online banking specially designed for the German market. The size of a credit card, the Gemalto reader fits in a wallet along with the banking card, to offer unmatched convenience and portability. Ezio Optical TAN is compliant with the latest German HHD* standard and leverages the security of the widely deployed SECCOS* banking cards. With 30 million users, Germany has the largest number of online banking customers in Europe.

With Ezio Optical TAN, online customers can enjoy anytime, anywhere e-banking with utmost simplicity. Users just present the device in front of their computer screen and optical sensors capture the data they would normally enter from the reader keypad to carry out and sign online transactions. No software needs to be installed to use the device.

“Reinforcing e-banking services security has always been a priority for German banks and they were among the first in Europe to implement strong authentication solutions,” commented Jacques Seneca, executive vice president of the Security Business Unit for Gemalto. “Gemalto’s strong historical presence in Germany, particularly in the banking sector, has provided us with an in-depth understanding of local banks’ specific needs. This resulted in the development of an authentication solution that is perfectly tailored for this very advanced market.”

The Gemalto product is part of an extended family of authentication and digital signature solutions that includes notably readers, tokens, software and services. Gemalto has already successfully delivered Ezio authentication solutions to leading banks in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

HHD: HandHeld Device
SECCOS: Secure Chip Card Operating System

About Gemalto

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Rémi Calvet
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 01 64 10
Mob: +33 (0) 6 22 72 81 58
E-mail: remi.calvet@gemalto.com

Aline Borne
T.: +33 (0)1 55 01 51 05
M.: +33 (0)6 16 29 87 04
E-mail: aline.borne@gemalto.com

TBWA\Corporate
Rebekah Lahey
Tel: +33 (0) 1 49 09 26 58
Mob : +33 (0) 6 07 21 08 77
E-mail: rebekah.lahey@tbwa-corporate.com

Gemalto Extends Banking Personalization Service for Singapore's Citi - M1 - Visa NFC Pilot

Smart Card Alliance — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:42:00 -0400

Singapore, June 17, 2009 – Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces that it is providing personalization services to Citibank and Visa in support of the Citi - M1 mobile - Visa payWave NFC pilot in Singapore.

More than 750 merchant locations across Singapore are participating in the three-month pilot, which was launched in May 2009. Up to 300 selected Citi M1 Visa Platinum card members have been invited to join. They are able to purchase items at Visa payWave merchants simply by waving their NFC-enabled phones in front of a contactless reader at the point of sale.

Gemalto is entrusted with the management and preparation of sensitive user information from Citibank and to perform secure Visa personalization services on the phones enabling subscribers to gain access to the Visa payWave service on Singapore M1’s mobile network.

The service is performed at Gemalto’s certified personalization facility in Singapore as part of the Gemalto’s global Trusted Services Management (TSM) service offer.

“Mobile payment technology, when paired with a credit card account, has the great potential to change the future of consumer behavior in how we make payments and transact daily. This pilot is testimony to our continuous endeavor to acquire new technologies that can provide enhanced convenience, accessibility and mobility for our customers. Gemalto’s experience in NFC projects around the world facilitates secure data exchanges between the parties involved in this pilot,” commented John Denhof, Business Director of Credit Payment Products, Citibank Singapore Ltd.

Ms. Meranda Chan, Visa’s Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei added, “With this pilot, we aim to gain greater insight into what drives consumer usage of Visa payWave on mobile devices. But a project like this can only succeed if the necessary expertise is applied in operational and technical areas. For that, we are pleased to have Gemalto as a partner, given the depth of their experience in smart card management for both the telecommunications and payment sectors.”

“Mobile NFC will not only change the way consumers use their mobile phones but impact their lifestyles and buying behaviour as well. By working with Gemalto and Citibank, our long time partners, on this pilot project, we hope to better understand consumer behaviour in the use of this technology. This will help us develop a compelling mobile payment service for both our consumers and business partners,” said Mr P Subramaniam, Chief Marketing Officer, M1.

Mr Tan Teck Lee, President Gemalto Asia remarked, “Having participated in major NFC pilot programs around the world, we have accumulated a unique expertise in operating services with multiple stakeholders and different industries, particularly when dealing with how to handle sensitive information. Gemalto is unique in that we gained all this experience across all of the key industries, for example in the telecom, financial services and transportation sectors”.

About Gemalto

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 140 countries. Through its two operating units, Citicorp and Citi Holdings, Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management.

Additional information may be found at http://www.citigroup.com or http://www.citi.com.

About Visa

Visa Inc. operates the world’s largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world, and Visa/PLUS is one of the world’s largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.corporate.visa.com.

About M1

M1, Singapore’s most exciting and innovative mobile, broadband and IDD service provider, was launched in April 1997. Since then, it has made significant inroads into the local mobile communications market, gaining considerable brand presence and market share. M1 aims to be the leader in personal voice, business and data communications, focusing on value, quality and customer service.

More information on M1 is available at http://www.m1.com.sg.

Contacts:

Gemalto Asia
Marcos Fernandes
T.: +852 2306 3626
M.: +852 6051 6425
marcos.fernandes@gemalto.com

Grayling Global
Aparna Agrawal / Joyce Lee / Kenny Yap
T.: +65 6325 4606
F.: +65 6325 4616
Aparna.agrawal@sg.grayling.com