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 Gemplus
and Texas Instruments collaborate to expand smart card reader technology
to the PC market
Industry leaders join to promote smart card infrastructure
worldwide.
- New GemCore based CardBus controllers will provide
built-in smart card reader technology for notebook and desktop computers
- Smart card adds new capabilities and new level
of security to applications including secure data exchange and PC log-on,
on-line shopping and e-banking
- New devices represent widespread deployment of
smart card infrastructure in response to market demand
 WinHEC
Conference, Seattle, Wash., April 12, 2002 - Gemplus, the world's
leading provider of smart card solutions, and Texas Instruments Incorporated
(TI), today announced they have entered into a technology license agreement
to provide smart card reader functionality to notebook and desktop computers.
Today's announcement is expected to help build the infrastructure necessary
for the rising demand for electronic commerce, network security and other
PC-based smart card applications and services.
As part of the technology license agreement, TI will integrate Gemplus'
GemCore smart card interface into its UltraMedia™ CardBus controller
devices, providing a new generation of CardBus products with built-in
smart card functionality and EMV level 1, PC/SC and Microsoft's (MSFT)
WHQL compliance. EMV is a standard from Europay International, MasterCard
and Visa, which ensures compatibility between payment systems.
"Incorporating smart card reader technology into desktop and notebook
computers is an important step to help build the infrastructure necessary
for secure information exchange," said Shalini Chowdhary, senior
industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan. "The collaboration between
Gemplus and Texas Instruments, both leaders in their respective industries,
provides a valuable solution for PC manufacturers whose users require
optimal security, convenience and flexibility when doing business on the
Internet."
"With the help of Gemplus' leading edge technology and support,
our next generation of UltraMedia™ products will enable PC users
to do business and perform transactions over the Internet with increased
security, convenience and confidence," said Julie Holland, director
of TI's Connectivity Solutions group. "By working with Gemplus, we
are able to offer our customers tremendous savings, ease-of-use and instant
access to the inherent benefits of smart card technology, which we believe
is poised for tremendous growth in the near future due to the need for
more security and privacy."
With more than one billion smart cards shipped in 2000, a figure expected
to rise to above three billion by 2004 , smart card technology is quickly
getting into the hands of many people worldwide. By integrating GemCore
into CardBus products, PC manufacturers will be able to offer users a
simple and immediate way to use smart card technology for secure on-line
shopping, Internet banking, network ID and data security.
"We believe that embedding the smart card readers into notebook
and desktop computers will further enable the quick and easy mass adoption
and implementation of smart cards," said Alexandre Lorenzi, Smart
Card Interfaces director at Gemplus. "TI's technical leadership,
excellent customer support and experience in this market will enable Gemplus
to build the reader infrastructure needed to meet the growing demand and
issuance of smart cards worldwide."
Meet Gemplus at WinHEC 2002 Seattle, Wash., April 16-18, in Texas Instruments'
booth # 201.
About GemCore
GemCore solutions enable electronics OEM and OED to develop and integrate,
in a flash, low-cost smart card reader interfaces for high-volume use in
a wide range of devices including computers, keyboards, personal digital
assistants, set-top-boxes, Internet Appliances, Point-of-Sales terminals,
telephones and vending machines. Including Certification and Integration
Support Services, GemCore offer allows customers to avoid long and costly
development phases and leads to faster time-to-market. Compliant with all
major industrial and banking standards (including EMV - Europay MasterCard
Visa - PC/SC and WHQL), GemCore based-interfaces are made functional right
from the integration phase and can communicate with any kind of smart card
on the market.
With more than 5,000,000 units shipped and best-in-class references, GemCore
is the world leading technology for smart and secure card interfaces.
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies
to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition
to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls,
and Educational & Productivity Solutions. 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 is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com.
About Gemplus
Gemplus is the world's number one provider of solutions empowered by smart
cards. 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, 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 6721 people in 37
countries throughout the world.
Gemplus: Beyond smart
Contacts
Gemplus
Marielle Bricman
Global Press Relations Manager
+33 4 42 36 55 96
marielle.bricman@gemplus.com
Alicia Jones
Edelman PR Worldwide
Tel : +1 323 202 1047
Alicia.jones@edelman.com
Texas Instruments
Tracy Sickles
TI Media Relations
Tel: +1 214 480 7487
t-sickles1@ti.com
Jennifer Odom
Golin/Harris International
Tel: +1 972 308 914
jodom@golinharris.com
©2002 Gemplus and Telemac Corporation. All
rights reserved. Gemplus, the Gemplus logo, GemXplore and GemXpresso are
the trademarks and service marks of Gemplus and may be registered in certain
countries. Telemac, the Telemac logo, Telemac CostControl, Telemac Advantage,
Telemac-enabled, IMA-Module and Telemac Prepaid Technology are trademarks
and service marks of Telemac Corporation and may be registered in certain
countries. Sun, Java and Java Card are trademarks and service marks of
Sun Microsystems, Inc., and may be 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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