With IBM & Gemplus, TSYS simplifies "multi-application" smart cards

Alliance Delivers Smart-Card Answers Safer, Cheaper, Faster

New Orleans, La., April 23, 2002 - TSYS, Gemplus and IBM have joined to create the most versatile "multi-application" smart card management system in the marketplace. This integrated system is capable of maintaining critical smart card programs - like loyalty and rewards; credit, debit or other payments; security; identification; and access - on a single, highly secure card with an embedded microchip. Together, these three companies can simplify and streamline the complex process for any corporation, organization or government agency to implement a smart-card program.

• TSYS® will provide this multi-application system for smart cards by joining its global card-processing platform, TS2®, with a chip management system (CMS-eSM) built by IBM that integrates an application management system (AMS) from Gemplus. TS2 services 100 percent of the commercial cards used by 2.5 million U.S. government employees. TSYS currently serves more than 15 million smart cards in North America and Europe.
• IBM Global Services created its lifecycle chip management system, CMS-e, to provide a flexible, transaction-based infrastructure to communicate with any external system. IBM's CMS-e integrates application management systems that are designed to support associated smart card applications. IBM Global Services is the world's largest provider of information technology services.
• Gemplus® provides the hardware, software and services that power smart-card applications in telecommunications, financial services, health care, e-business security and others. The company's application management system (AMS) dynamically supports the multiple applications on a smart card throughout its life cycle. Gemplus, is the world's leading provider of smart card-enabled solutions.

Representatives from the three companies will be available to discuss the alliance in New Orleans at CardTech/SecurTech 2002, April 22-25 (see www.ct-ctst.com for details). The companies will host presentations in Room 285 of the Morial Convention Center at the following times (CDT): Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Wednesday at 10 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and Thursday at 10 a.m. CardTech/SecurTech is the world's premier advanced card, biometrics and security technology conference and exposition.

The TSYS alliance with Gemplus and IBM removes many of the hurdles that have blocked the evolution of smart-card programs, offering a smart-card system that is flexible, delivers real-time consumer data at the point of contact and encompasses the full spectrum of smart-card lifecycle management. Assembling the complex pieces of a multi-application smart card system presents a great challenge, which made the case for "smart" cards elusive in recent years. Though some issuers have offered smart cards, most companies have avoided smart-card programs because they have been too expensive and too difficult to implement. The alliance has largely removed that complexity.

About TSYS
TSYS serves as the integral link between buyers and sellers in the rapidly evolving universe of electronic payments. With more than 229 million accounts on file, TSYS enables millions of consumers to use their credit, debit, stored value, commercial, chip and retail cards any time, anywhere through any medium or portal. TSYS offers a full range of acquiring and issuing services, including accepting electronic payments for goods and services, evaluating credit applications and managing collections and bankruptcies. Based in Columbus, Ga., TSYS (NYSE: "TSS") (www.tsys.com) processes for companies in 23 countries, 14 currencies and four languages, with operations in Canada, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom. TSYS is an 81.1-percent-owned subsidiary of Synovus (NYSE: "SNV") (www.synovus.com), No. 5 on FORTUNE magazine's list of "The 100 Best Companies To Work For" in 2002. For more information, contact news@tsys.com.

About 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, 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. In 2001, Gemplus was the world's No. 1 in smart card shipments, according to Gartner-Dataquest, IDC, Frost and Sullivan, Datamonitor and The Nilson Report. 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 2001 was 1.0 billion euros. Gemplus: Beyond Smart, www.gemplus.com.

About IBM Global Services
IBM Global Services (NYSE: "IBM") (www.ibm.com/services) is the world's largest information technology services provider, with approximately 150,000 professionals serving customers in 160 countries and annual revenue of about $35 billion (2001). IBM Global Services integrates IBM's broad range of capabilities - services, hardware, software and research - to help companies of all sizes realize the full value of information technology.

Contacts

Jan Walbridge
IBM Press Relations
914.766.4647
walbridge@us.ibm.com

Kerry Butler
Gemplus North America
Public Relations
215.390.2840
kerry.butler@gemplus.com