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 Gemplus
Wins Landmark Contract For Sultanate of Oman National Identification Programme
- Awarded with contract to supply a comprehensive
national identity solution including the issuance of over 1.2 million
smart ID cards
- Part of Sultanate of Oman strategy to improve
quality of public service and homeland security infrastructure
- First nationwide smart card-based citizen
identity solution to be deployed in the Middle East
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Quote Sheet 
Luxembourg - October 23, 2002 - Gemplus International
SA (Paris Euronext: Euroclear 5768 and Nasdaq: GEMP), the world's leading
provider of smart card-enabled solutions, today announces that it has
been awarded a contract to deliver a comprehensive national identification
(ID) solution to the Sultanate of Oman.
This is the first smart card-based identity solution ever implemented
in the Middle East. The Sultanate's smart citizen identity card is intended
for launch by end 2003, after all necessary integration and infrastructure
developments are made. The contract appoints Gemplus to provide consultancy,
project management and integration, as well as services, software and
cards.
The Sultanate of Oman wishes to provide better, faster and more accurate
public services for its citizens together with higher levels of security,
including biometrics. The Sultanate has invested in a modern system that
utilizes open Java CardÔ technology, in order to deliver a versatile
ID solution that can easily accommodate future e-Government applications.
Whilst a number of smart card-based ID programmes are being undertaken
around the world, the Sultanate of Oman is pursuing this global trend,
paving the way amongst leading technology countries.
Over 1.2 million smart cards will be deployed, initially enabling personal
digital identification. Oman's citizens and residents will be able to
securely and conveniently store their personal credentials on the cards,
including name, address, digital photo ID and fingerprints. It is planned
to extend the smart card usage to host the individual's driver's license
and border control applications, with other applications, including emergency
medical data, being added over time. The ID cards combined with biometric
recognition will be able to be checked both by portable terminals and
by automatic electronic validation, for example at airport immigration
checkpoints.
In addition to acquiring technology, the Sultanate of Oman is aiming
to develop new technical competencies within the Royal Oman Police force,
which is the local authority managing the ID program. Gemplus will deliver
this through extensive IT training and skills transfer programs.
His Excellency, Hilal Bin Khalid Al Ma'uwaly, Inspector General, Royal
Oman Police force said
"The NRS/smart card initiative illustrates the capability of
different government organisations in integrating the services rendered
to the public."
Dr. Soulaiman Al-Harthy, Directorate General, Royal Oman Police force
said:
"We are eager to launch the NRS/smart card solution, which took
our dedicated project office years of careful thinking and planning. We
learnt from the experience of other nations and adopted a state of the
art solution, which is open, flexible and capable of standing the test
of time. Gemplus was selected as the final vendor, due to their expertise
and professionalism. They were selected according to very careful and
stringent criteria. We are looking forward to work with Gemplus as partners
and are keen to transfer the required skills for business continuity to
our staff."
Gilles Michel, President Gemplus Financial and Security Services said:
"We are delighted to have gained this important contract. The
Sultanate of Oman recognises that smart card technology provides the ideal
means to manage personal credentials and to provide a secure, reliable
and flexible platform for public services and security. Through this programme,
the Sultanate is taking a leading position in introducing the benefits
of smart cards at a national level. The contract also reinforces Gemplus'
position in this important new growth market."
Alex Mandl, Chief Executive Officer of Gemplus, said:
"ID programmes are a key element of Gemplus' future strategy.
Smart cards provide a simple, durable and highly cost effective means
of enabling and controlling secure access and identification. Increasingly,
they are a fundamental tool for governments and organisations of all kinds,
both to improve service and to reinforce personal and national security.
The Sultanate of Oman is leading the way in putting these principles into
practice."
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, 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 worldwide smart card leader in both revenues
and total smart card shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest and Frost &
Sullivan). Gemplus was also awarded Frost & 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 as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in 2001 was
1 billion Euros.
Gemplus: Beyond Smart www.gemplus.com
For more information contact:
Gemplus
Kerry Butler/Carl Norell
Gemplus Public Relations
Tel: +1 215 390 2840 / +1 215 390 2899
Email: kerry.butler@gemplus.com
/ carl.norell@gemplus.com
Marielle Bricman
Gemplus Corporate PR Manager
Tel: +33 442 36 5596
Email: marielle.bricman@gemplus.com
Sultanate of Oman
Royal Oman Police
Email: dgcs@rop.gov.om
©2002 Gemplus All rights reserved. Gemplus
and the Gemplus logo 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. Java and Java Card are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
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