Gemplus and KT ICOM team up for 3G trial services during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan

Gemplus scores hat trick by providing smart card solutions based on USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) cards, applet development, and over-the-air delivery

• First deployment of smart card technology for the Korean telecom industry
• KT ICOM to provide 3G handsets to customers in five major stadiums and downtown in Seoul and Busan
• Convergence of Telecom and Banking standards providing secure mobile commerce capabilities
• KT ICOM to provide value-added services including video phone and video on demand
  

May 31, 2002 - Gemplus, the world's leading provider of smart card solutions, and KT ICOM, Korea's 3G IMT-2000 mobile operator, today announced they will be providing W-CDMA trial services during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan including video phone and video on demand capabilities. Hundreds of trialists including World Cup Officials will experience these introductory services at the World Cup Plaza located at five major stadiums and downtown Seoul and Busan during the World Cup period.

Customers will be able to make standard voice calls as well as videophone calls while benefiting from new multimedia-based services such as video-on-demand by watching games and recalling football scores via KT ICOM handsets.

KT ICOM, one of the official telecommunications partners of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan throughKTCorp, selected Gemplus to provide an entire platform of solutions covering the supply of USIM cards (GemXplore 3G) applet development and Over-The Air (OTA) delivery system. With the arrival of the mobile data eco-system, the role of the card has become an architectural control point between the end-user and the operator reinforcing their unique privileged relationship. In this way, it can manage the end-users relationship with different content providers while guaranteeing the security of downloads on behalf of the operator. Its function as a flexible and secure way to store personal data and manage access to the network is fundamental to the development of mobile commerce and uptake of mobile data services.

"The true value of 3G has been realised by partnering with Gemplus," said Mr. Byoungcheol Choi, Director for M-Commerce Team at KT ICOM. "This project is a major step for KT ICOM. Not only is it 3G but also it is the first time that SIM cards have been widely deployed in a Korean telecom network. Gemplus has not only helped us to understand the value and opportunities of the USIM, but has provided us with much-needed support in order for us to meet our strict World Cup deadline."

This trial service is a clear benchmark in the development and deployment of mobile data services. Operators will be able to use their smart card to learn more about their subscribers, and then develop and deliver services accordingly. Consequently, they will reduce their cost and time-to-market and increase opportunities for generating revenue.

"Gemplus has been closely examining the current state of the industry and working to find solutions that will enable our clients, the operators, to get closer to their customers. The aim is to provide relevant targeted services to end-users within a 3G mobile data environment and help operators increase their ARPU. This project is proof that the smart card can do all we say it can," said Philippe Vallee, President for Telecom Business Unit at Gemplus.

By supplying SIM technology for the launch of this trial service, Gemplus reaffirms its position as a pioneer of3G technology. In the two most advanced wireless markets, Korea and Japan, Gemplus has been selected to support the implementation of 3G networks and the deployment of smart card based services.

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