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PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19 2003--A major new initiative to define specifications for worldwide access to wireless LAN networks with smart card security and related capabilities has been launched with the creation of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium.
One major challenge that has hampered Wireless Internet growth to date is secure mobility management. This challenge can be resolved using smart card properties. Indeed, smart cards can provide functions for worldwide wireless security, quality of service, roaming, and related services.
To reach this goal, the WLAN Smart Card Consortium endorses existing standards and defines new specifications where needed to provide worldwide access to wireless LAN networks with smart card security, privacy, roaming, convenience, and related capabilities.
19 companies and institutions have joined the consortium as Founding Members, including major infrastructure providers, card and chip manufacturers, startups, and academic institutions.
"The WLAN Smart Card Consortium is off to a very strong start. The worldwide potential of WLAN can be unleashed by using smart cards for security, roaming, and a full set of personalized services," says Bertrand du Castel, Pro Temp ore President of the consortium.
"We were very pleased with the results of the first meeting of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium in Paris," said Dan A. Cunningham, President and CEO of Raak Technologies. "And, we are pleased to be hosting the second meeting of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium in Austin, Texas, April 8-10."
"In order for the WLAN market to take off, there is a strong need to improve security, control access and protect user identity, which is where the strength of the smart card lies. The first challenge of the WLAN smart card consortium is in specifying the use of the card in order to facilitate smart card adoption. This is therefore an important initiative for Gemplus and why we intend to have an active participation" said Hubert Coyne, Gemplus representative in the WLAN smart card consortium.
"Keeping in mind that technology should be affordable, easy-to-use and scalable, the potential of the smart card to provide security, authentication, inter-network operability and additional end-user functionality to wireless LANs is unlimited", noted Tony Fascenda, CEO, Koolspan. "Koolspan looks forward to contributing to the success of the Consortium and is honored to be a founding member."
"Emerging technologies are likely to soon address the challenges of security, authentication, and seamless roaming management for WLAN deployment." said Laurent Kott, INRIA Vice-President for Technology Transfer. "However there is definitely a need for a worldwide initiative promoted by companies and public research organizations, so as to enable vendor-neutral deployment of complete solutions for users, and smart card technologies appear as an excellent basis for achieving this goal. INRIA sees this initiative as an effective means to promote worldwide interoperable specifications in this pervasive area, and is eager to bring the quality of its research teams, and its experience in management of multinational industrial consortia."
"This new consortium is a major initiative to offer more benefits to WLAN users and providers: smart cards increase the security, privacy, roaming capabilities, and convenience of Wi-Fi networks worldwide." said Jean-Claude Deturche, Vice-President of Marketing for Schlumberger Smart Cards. "Schlumberger fully supports this initiative in which it will actively contribute", he added.
"Trusted Logic strongly believes that the security of wireless LANs is a crucial issue for the years to come, and that smart cards can help wireless LAN operators rapidly reach the level of security required by their customers", said Dominique Bolignano, President and CEO of Trusted Logic. "Therefore, Trusted Logic is thrilled to be a founding member of this new initiative and will actively contribute to make it successful."
"We believe that adoption of smart card technologies to wireless LAN will promote the expansion of wireless LAN services more than ever. We are ready to contribute to the Consortium by providing expertise that we have gained in the smart card field." said Hidenori Nokubo, Director of Business Forms and Securities Printing Operations in Dai Nippon Printing.
"With WLAN the global citizen will be able to gain access to the resources he needs at the speed he needs, when and where it needs it. Confidentiality and Authentication will in this wireless world be of the utmost importance to guaranty everybody's privacy and rights. Oberthur Card System joining in the WLAN Smart Card Consortium illustrates its desire to help this connectivity dream become a reality" said Didier Serodon, Vice-President of Finance and ID division at Oberthur Card Systems.
"Security is the cornerstone for pervasive computing environments that will work with wireless networks, said Pr Pascal Urien, representative of the ENST in the WLAN smart card consortium. We believe that smart cards will reinforce security and facilitate mobility, and that they will enable profitable business models for wireless Internet service providers. We are already working in this direction, in international committees, like the IETF. We are very pleased to participate to this open initiative that will promote wireless networks by merging industrial and public research organizations efforts."
"Strong, reliable security is a key requirement for the widespread adoption of WLAN technology," said Bill Carney, Director of Business and Market Development for Texas Instruments Wireless Networking Business Unit. "In joining the WLAN Smart Card Consortium, TI brings its industry expertise in WLAN technology to help define mechanisms that can best utilize the inherent security capabilities of Smart Cards within wireless networks."
At its first plenary meeting of February 4-5 in Paris, Business and Technical Committees have defined their roadmap, and the Founders' Council has defined the first steps of governance principles for the permanent organization. Liaison contacts have been established for 3GPP, IEEE, the Wi-Fi Alliance, and smart card organizations such as the Java Card Forum.
The WLAN Smart Card consortium is open to new members. The next Plenary Meeting will be April 8-10 in Austin, Texas, hosted by RAAK Technologies. For more information on how to become a member of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium, visit http://WLANSmartCard.org or contact:
Bertrand du Castel (Pro Tempore President, ducastel@slb.com)
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver content to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging its long-term leadership in telecommunications network equipment as well as its expertise in applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
About Aspects Software Ltd
Aspects Software is the leading independent provider of operating systems, application development and test tools for smart cards. Aspects Java Card Operating System, provides the opportunity to license a world-class smart card Operating System, available on a variety of silicon, to enable development and deployment in any vertical sector that will benefit from a truly open smart card implementation. For further information go to http://www.aspects-sw.com
About Atmel
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, non-volatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is a leading provider of secure IC products for the Smart Card industry and also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.
About Dai Nippon Printing
Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) is one of the world's largest comprehensive printing companies, with annual sales of approximately US$9.9 billion* and 35,000 employees (as of March 2002). DNP's wide range of businesses includes publication printing, commercial printing, smart cards, business forms, network businesses and electronic components. DNP started smart card R&D since 1981 and its smart card business covers the development of card operating systems including Java Card(TM), MULTOS and proprietary systems, application development, card manufacturing as well as bureau services. In the field of mobile communications, DNP participated in the world first implementation of a 3rd generation SIM card. For more information about DNP, please visit http://www.dnp.co.jp. (* U.S. dollar amounts have been translated from yen at the rate of 133yen=U.S.$1, the approximate Tokyo foreign exchange market rated as of March 31,2002. Java, and Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.)
About ENST
The ENST, a state of the art institution in the fields of technology and innovation, has four major missions which pay tribute to its pedagogical excellence and its international dimension. These missions include research, engineering studies, research-oriented study, and lifelong learning.
The ENST laboratories are part of GET-Recherche, over the last few decades, it has gained a recognized position internationally in its technical domains. In addition to working on developments in the basic sciences, research at ENST also aims at broadening its field of study, moving in particular towards systems integration, innovative services on the Internet and in other media, and the analysis of users' communication practices and their social impact. ENST thus covers all aspects of Information Technologies. More information about ENST is available at http://www.enst.fr
About Gemplus
GEMPLUS: the world's leading provider of smart card solutions.
Gemplus helps its clients offer an exceptional range of portable, personalized solutions that bring security and convenience to people's lives. These include mobile Internet access, interoperable banking facilities, e-commerce and a wealth of other applications. Gemplus is the only completely dedicated, truly global player in the Smart Card industry, with the largest R&D team, unrivaled experience, and an outstanding track record of technological innovation.
In 2001, Gemplus was the worldwide smart card leader in both revenue and total smart card shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest, Frost and Sullivan). Gemplus was also awarded Frost and Sullivan's 2002 Market Value Award for its exceptional performance. Gemplus trades its shares on Euronext Paris S.A. First Market and on the Nasdaq Stock Market(tm) as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in 2001 was 1 billion Euros.
About Infineon Technologies AG
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors, for applications in the wired communications markets, secure mobile solutions as well as memory products. With a global presence, Infineon operates in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore and in Japan from Tokyo. In fiscal year 2002 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 5.21 billion with about 30,400 employees worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.infineon.com.
About INRIA
Founded in 1967, the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control, works at the heart of the information society and networks the skills of French and European research and training organizations active in the areas of Information Technologies and Sciences. Half of the 100 research project-teams currently underway at INRIA are being carried out jointly with universities, leading schools and research organizations. INRIA plays a determining role in four areas of research: networks and systems; software engineering and symbolic computation; man-machine interaction, imaging, data, knowledge; simulation and optimization of complex systems. INRIA is actively involved in technology transfer programs: it has concluded 600 research contracts with industry and spun off some 60 private companies, notably through its INRIA-Transfert subsidiary, promoter of 4 seed funds: I-Source 1&2 (IT), C-Source (multimedia) and T-Source (telecommunications). With MIT for America and the University of Keio for Asia, INRIA has been hosting the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) from 1995 until fall 2002, where the European leadership was handed over to ERCIM. For more information about INRIA, see : http://www.inria.fr/
About Jurgensen Consulting
Jurgensen Consulting offers technical training, documentation, and development support for smart card systems, with specific emphasis on the use of smart cards within high security networks. Headed by Tim Jurgensen and based in Austin, TX, the group provides consulting services to a wide range of companies in the smart card, secure computing, and secure networking arenas. Further information is available at http://www.scdk.com/ or via e-mail to tmjurgensen@jump.net
About Koolspan
Taking 802.11 to the Edge
Koolspan has developed a secure, easy-to-use, scalable solution for 802.11 wireless local area networks. Koolspan takes a unique approach to integrating the Smart Card into the wireless network by eliminating the need for authentication servers, network appliances or user settings. Koolspan's bi-directional Layer 2 encryption solution is fully automatic and works independently of the 802.11 technology, allowing it to interface with all versions of 802.11 while providing ease of use when moving among home, office and public hotspot-enabled networks. The Koolspan solution is scalable from the home network to the largest public hotspot networks. Koolspan provides value-added application-specific functionality including Location-Based Services as well as additional solutions under development. To learn more about Koolspan, please visit http://www.koolspan.com.
About Oberthur Card Systems
With 440.1 million euros sales in 2002, Oberthur Card Systems is one of the world's leading providers of card-based solutions, software and applications including SIM and multi-application smart cards and services ranging from consulting to personalization. Innovative products, high security expertise as well as high quality services ensure Oberthur's strong positioning in its three main target markets.
- Payment: 52% of revenues in 2002, the company is the world leader and number one supplier for Visa and MasterCard.
- Mobile Communications: 29 % of revenues in 2002, with open and interoperable solutions based on Java(tm) technology.
- Authentication and Network Security: emerging markets in which the company plays a pioneering role, with strong expertise in security and a dominant position in e-commerce and Pay-TV.
Close to its customers, Oberthur Card Systems benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents. Listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange (Code Euroclear 12413) since July 2000, Oberthur Card Systems, is a subsidiary of François-Charles Oberthur Group.
Web site: www.oberthurcs.com <http://www.oberthurcs.com>
About Raak Technologies
Based in Austin, Texas, Raak Technologies provides secure device authentication for 802.11b WLAN networks utilizing 802.1x standards. Raak’s solution enables a corporation to control access to its WLAN network by issuing Raak supplied highly secure cards or tokens to authorized users, and by installing Raak’s client software on authorized desk top and lap top PCs. In addition, Raak makes secure systems easy to deploy, manage and use by providing personalization, deployment and management software and services. For more information go to http://www.raaktechnologies.com.
About Schlumberger
SchlumbergerSema is one of two business segments of Schlumberger Limited, a global technology services company. With more than 30,000 employees serving customers in 65 countries, SchlumbergerSema aggregates IT consulting, systems integration, managed services and related products to the oil and gas, telecommunications, energy and utilities, finance, transport and public sector markets. Leveraging the Schlumberger DeXa* Suite of Services, it also provides IP network connectivity, information security solutions, distributed computing support services and data center hosting services. In 2001, Schlumberger revenues were $14.3 billion. For more information, visit http://www.slb.com. (* Dexa is a trademark of Schlumberger)
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides high-performance, low power 802.11 solutions for the growing Wi-Fi market by leveraging the company’s history of innovation and leadership in wireless and broadband. TI’s WLAN business is part of the company’s comprehensive portfolio of broadband solutions including cable modem, DSL, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateways, and carrier infrastructure. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information on TI’s WLAN business is located at http://www.ti.com/wlan.
About Transat
Transat provides carrier-grade software systems for the integration of wireless LAN and cellular networks. Transat's software is in commercial service, enabling SIM- or smart-card based authentication, controlling network access and inter-network roaming. Uniquely, Transat creates transparency of services between 3G or GSM networks and WLAN networks. Public access and enterprise systems are supported. Transat is headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, and is founded by Acor Campus, Bay Partners, Genesis Campus and Intel Capital. More information about Transat Technologies is available at http://www.transat-tech.com.
About Trusted Logic
French startup created in 1999, Trusted Logic has enjoyed ever since an undisputed image of competence in the embedded systems industry. Technology enabler by excellence, Trusted Logic is at the leading edge of the open embedded technology and has built the Trusted Foundations you need to bring the utmost security to your smart card or terminal business. Corner stone of our product strategy, our Trusted Foundations are accompanied by certification tools and security services, altogether combining into the most comprehensive and reliable solutions. For more information about Trusted Logic, visit http://www.trusted-logic.com.
About Ucopia
Ucopia is a leading Wireless LAN startup providing enterprise mobility management software. A pioneer in the use of smart cards in WLAN networks, Ucopia has been a driving force in the creation of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium. More information about Ucopia at http://www.ucopia.com.
About Visa
Visa is the world’s leading payment brand. Visa-branded cards generate US$2.4 trillion in annual volume and are accepted at 30 million physical locations around the world, including 810,000 ATMs in more than 150 countries. The Visa organization plays a pivotal role in developing innovative payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce the ability to conduct commerce anywhere, anytime, and any way. For more information, visit http://www.corporate.visa.com.
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