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Gemplus and K-Laboratory Form Strategic Alliance to Secure Wireless JAVA™
Alliance aims to secure the wireless Internet ensuring Mobile Operators and Content Providers avoid the pitfalls of the dotcom bust
Strategic alliance to pioneer new solutions for secure deployment of Java applets in Java enabled handsets and wireless smart cards
Collaboration in Java will provide network operators and content providers with secure data delivery infrastructure leading to successful business and revenue sharing models
Wireless subscribers set to benefit from trusted mobile services and payment environments
Thursday, 22 November 2001, London, UK - Gemplus S.A. (Euronext: Sicovam 5768 and Nasdaq: "GEMP"), the world's number one provider of solutions empowered by smart cards, has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with K-Laboratory Co., Inc., (Headquarter: Tokyo, Japan), the leader in mobile Java development and mobile platform technologies in Japan, to jointly study and develop a secure architecture for the provisioning of applications in Java enabled handsets.
So far e-commerce on the Wired Internet has failed to ignite due to the lack of two things: security and reliable revenue models. With the arrival of 2.5 and 3G services in Japan the Wireless Internet infrastructure is now in place. In Japan, Java is the language of choice for mobile services with millions of subscribers already taking advantage of the creativity and flexibility of Java-based applications. This phenomenon is set to recreate itself world-wide with 30 million Java handsets already sold this year, rising to 400 million in 2003 and 1100 million in 2006.
In order for mobile business to take off it needs to come with the right level of security to create an environment of confidence between suppliers and customers. In such an environment end-users and handset manufacturers can rest assured that they do not download malicious applications onto the phone while operators and content providers can identify and bill users for the services they use and manage copyright issues.
The alliance between Gemplus and K-Laboratory will look at combining their expertise in Java-based Smart Cards, Card and Handset applications to build the right infrastructure for a trusted wireless environment. The scope of the agreement includes:
1) Building an open, secure architecture for distributing Java applications between Java enabled handsets, smart card and server
2) Developing Java-based mobile services that take the processing power of the Java phone allied with the benefits of the Smart Card
3) Studying ways in which digital rights such as copyright and licence agreements are managed
"Java offers many advantages for content delivery but both users and suppliers will only place their confidence in such content when there is sufficient security. Our alliance with K-Laboratory aims to create an infrastructure where Java-based mobile services will be downloaded, executed and managed by both the handset and the card thus creating a bond of trust. It is essential for Gemplus to be working with a strong partner in Japan as this market is currently the most advanced mobile data market and strongly influences world-wide data services strategies." Commented Frédéric Vasnier, Vice President Marketing, Card & Tools Product Lines, Telecom BU, Gemplus.
"The demand for bandwidth is driven by demand for solutions and in this case, secure smart card solutions. With the recent launch of 3G technology, smart card solutions are successfully being adopted in the Japanese mobile marketplace. This partnership brings together two leaders in the industry and we hope to introduce more secure, advanced Java mobile technologies to Japan and the rest of the world, in line with our own strategy to provide a global solution with technology partners that are also driving the market." Said Mr Tetsuya Sanada, President & CEO, K-Laboratory.
Gemplus is the world's number one provider of applications and services empowered by smart cards with the strongest global presence in the telecommunications, finance and security industries with operations in 37 countries. It was the first to market with a 3rd Generation card and is a key partner in the migration towards 3G networks. To date, Gemplus has supplied NTT DoCoMo's USIM cards in its FOMA handsets.
K Laboratory Co., Ltd is a leading software development company in the burgeoning mobile phone industry in Japan. K-Laboratory has experience and expertise in the development of Java applications for mobile phones as well as core mobile platforms, such as animation engines and instant messaging architectures. K-Laboratory's access to first-hand market data from its application business in Japan allows it to develop market-driven, user-oriented technologies. These technologies are constantly delivered to millions of subscribers, major operators, and handset manufacturers.
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About K-Laboratory
K Lab (Hq: Tokyo Japan ) is a leading software development company in the Mobile Phone industry in Japan. K Lab has experience and expertise in the development of K Java application software, core engines such as animation engines and graphic engines dedicated to Mobile Phone devises. K Lab has developed dozens of successful mobile applications, ranging in theme from entertainment apps, including games, cartoon watches, screen savers, ring tone downloads, and fortune tellers, to more practical tools, such as maps, railway schedules, and weather forecasts. K Lab has delivered these technologies to millions of subscribers, major wireless service carriers and handset manufacturers. K Lab performs marketing research, analysis and case studies in the Japanese Mobile market. This generates a deep understanding of Japanese Mobile user's preferences and behavior and leads to market driven, as opposed to technology driven, products.
K Laboratory: http://www.klab.org
*K Laboratory is a trademark of K Laboratory Co., Ltd. In Japan.
Java is a registered trademark or registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.
J2ME : Java 2 Micro Edition
CLDC: Connected Limited Devices Configuration
MIDP: Mobile Information Devices Profile
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About Gemplus
GEMPLUS: the world's number one provider of solutions empowered by Smart Cards (Gartner Dataquest 2001, Frost & Sullivan 2001).
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, inter-operable 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, unrivalled experience, and an outstanding track record of technological innovation.
Gemplus trades its shares on Euronext Paris S.A. First Market and on the Nasdaq Stock Market as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in 2000 was 1.205 Billion Euros. It employs 7800 people in 37 countries throughout the world.
Gemplus: Your Passport to the Digital Age
www.gemplus.com
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Contacts
Gemplus, Ged Carroll Edelman (PR Worldwide)
Tel.: 44 20 7344 1519
Email: ged.carroll@edelman.com
K-Laboratory, Kotaro Chiba, Satoko Yutsudo, Midori Ito
Tel.: 81 3 3436 10 10
Email: info@klab.org
It should be noted that certain of the statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27a of the securities act of 1933 and section 21e of the securities exchange act of 1934. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including without limitation customer demand for our products, supply of key components, developments in the market and advances in technology that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, or performance to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of these factors, please see Gemplus' most recent filings with the securities and exchange commission. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this release. We are under no duty to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements after this date or to confirm such statements to actual results or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated results.
©2001 Gemplus All rights reserved. Gemplus,
the Gemplus logo and GemSense are trademarks and service marks of Gemplus
S.A. and are registered in certain countries. All other trademarks and
service marks, whether registered or not in specific countries, are the
property of their respective owners.
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