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 Gemplus
Launches its Most Advanced Universal Smart Card Reader GemPC Twin
Combined USB and serial port functionality in a fully
transparent crystal reader is aimed at driving industry uptake
of smart card technology
- With both serial and USB ports, GemPC Twin reduces
ordering costs for issuers who can now issue the same reader for customers
using USB and serial connections
- Slow process of customizing
smart card readers now overcome by GemPC Twin's fully transparent crystal
casing in order for companies to speed time to market
- GemPC Twin is one of the
world's smallest one-chip systems designed today
- New products part of efforts
to widely deploy smart card infrastructure in response to market demand
CARTES 2002, PARIS - 5 November 2002 - Gemplus (Paris Euronext:
Euroclear 5768 and NASDAQ:GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart
card-enabled solutions, today announces the launch of GemPC Twin, its
most advanced smart card reader. GemPC Twin offers both USB and serial
port options in order to suit any market specification.
A number of developments across various industries are driving the rapid
growth of smart card-based systems. One of these is the advent of the
EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa) mandate, which requires all banks and
financial institutions to deploy secure, smart chip-based credit/debit
cards by no later than 2005. Additionally, an increasing number of smart
card loyalty programs by retail and private companies is spurring the
growth and uptake of secure smart card-based systems. Growing awareness
of fraud from online shopping and the need for secure forms of electronic
transaction is creating additional need for smart card readers in the
PC market.
Current smart card readers are customized for each individual customer
thus slowing the time to market. GemPC Twin has been designed with a fully
transparent crystal casing so companies can avoid the costly exercise
of reader customization. Banks, retailers and companies spend a substantial
amount of money on personalizing the artwork on the cards they issue to
their customers. A fully transparent smart card reader will ensure that
a company's branding and artwork remains clearly visible at all times
throughout the card-reading process.
By offering USB or serial port options on one reader, Gemplus helps companies
avoid costly stockpiles of single-port reader hardware. GemPC Twin's core
technology is based on Gemplus' GemCore Pro, which will automatically
configure the reader setting once the corresponding serial or USB cable
is attached.
Weighing only 120g and measuring 70mm and 60mm, GemPC Twin is one of
the smallest one-chip systems designed today.
"Countries including France and Singapore already widely use smart
card-based systems and the trend is set to continue across the globe.
The PC market represents a big market for us and we are already starting
to make significant inroads into it. By having an integrated dual-port
reader solution available, we can provide a smart card infrastructure
that is deployable anywhere in the world," commented Carlos Romero-Liceras,
senior product marketing for smart card interface at Gemplus. "GemPC
Twin positions us firmly as the leading provider of reader infrastructure
able to meet the current growing demand for smart cards worldwide."
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
About GemCore
The GemCore solution enables companies to develop, in a flash, best of
breed and low-cost universal smart card interfaces for high-volume use
in a wide range of electronic devices that include keyboards, computers,
set-top boxes, personal digital assistants, Internet appliances, point-of-sale
terminals and vending machines.
GemCore customers benefit from Gemplus' world-renowned technical proficiency
in smart card integration, as well as in computing and banking certification
processes. Main certifications already obtained by GemCore-based devices
include EMV (Europay, MasterCard, Visa), Smart Visa Ready and Microsoft'WHQL
(Windows Hardware Quality Labs).
For more information contact:
Gemplus
Marielle Bricman
Gemplus Corporate PR Manager
Tel: +33 442 36 5596
Email: marielle.bricman@gemplus.com
©2002 Gemplus All rights reserved. Gemplus,
the Gemplus logo and GemCore 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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