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 Gemplus
Supplies Java Cards™ To Orange UK
Orange have selected Gemplus as a supplier of
Java SIM Card
Luxembourg, September 24, 2002: Gemplus International S.A (Euronext:
Sicovam 5768 and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart
card enabled solutions, has been selected by Orange UK as a supplier for
the delivery of 32K Java SIM cards.
"Our Special Edition Java SIM forms the basis for our intended move
to more advanced Java SIM cards. These will enable the end-user to download
new applications in a dynamic environment as the cards implement an efficient
and flexible memory system. The priority for us is to ensure the interoperability
and flexibility of our applications on Java SIM cards," commented
Gwen Edwards, Orange UK. "Gemplus has demonstrated its ability to
deliver more advanced SIM cards to Orange, as well as showing an understanding
of Java technology by working with Orange to deliver interoperable Java
SIM cards."
"This trial marks the beginning of an exciting period in the mobile
telecom industry. It is one of the first significant steps towards realizing
the benefits of Java-based technology and we are pleased to be able to
contribute," commented Olivier Leger, Director - UK, Ireland, Telecom
Business Unit, Gemplus. "The SIM represents the most effective way
for operators to manage and deliver exciting services to mobile customers
and our work in Java is demonstrating the technology's inherent secure
flexibility and interoperability."
Gemplus has shown itself to be ahead of the competition in terms of smart
card security as proven by the recent EAL5+ certification for its GemXploreTM
'Xpresso 64K Java OS cards by the Common Criteria security standards.
This goes beyond the legal requirements for digital signature. All other
Java cards available on the market today have only reached EAL 4+ certification.
Combined with Gemplus' recent developments in Dynamic Memory Management,
which enable an efficient service roll out and management of applications
on the SIM, Gemplus is able to reinforce and maintain ARPU levels during
the card life cycle. Gemplus offers the most comprehensive range of secure
Java-based cards and applications.
The use of Gemplus' expertise in the UK trial strengthens an already
close relationship with Orange, which dates back to 1995. Gemplus is also
recognized as an innovative partner that is keen to help Orange achieve
its vision of a brighter future.
About Orange
- Orange, wirefree and any other Orange product or service referred
to in this release are trademarks of Orange.
- Orange provides a broad range of personal communications services,
including Orange GSM 1800 services and other digital cellular telephone
services.
- In August 2000 Orange plc was acquired by France Telecom, leading
to the creation of Europe's second largest mobile operator. The new
Orange has operations in 22 countries across Europe and beyond.
- As at the end of June 2002, Orange had over 12.8 million customers
in the UK, 18.6 million in France and approximately 41.4 million controlled
customers worldwide.
- The Oftel network performance survey, published in June 2002 showed
that on a percentage basis, Orange had more calls which were successful
overall than any other operator. In the survey, which was audited by
BABT, Orange was shown to have an overall call success rate of 97.8%
of calls connected and completed successfully. Other networks' comparable
figures were Vodafone 97.5%, O2 97.3% and T-Mobile 95.1%.
- In May 2002, the fifth annual J.D. Power and Associates UK Mobile
Customer Satisfaction Study showed that Orange ranks as the number one
telephone service for customer satisfaction in the contract sector.
Orange has ranked number one for customer satisfaction for both contract
and prepay customers in every J.D. Power and Associates UK Mobile Customer
Satisfaction Study since 1998.
- Orange provides high quality coverage to 99% of the UK population
and over 80% of the geographic area. Coverage is based on hand portable,
unlike some other operators which choose to base their coverage on boosted
car kits.
- Orange UK now offers roaming in 124 countries on 276 networks.
- Information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.co.uk
and media information can be found at www.orange.com
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 revenue
and total smart card shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest, Frost and Sullivan,
BNP Paribas) . Gemplus was also awarded Frost and 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(tm) as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in
2001 was 1 billion Euros.
Gemplus: Beyond Smart
www.gemplus.com
For further information please contact:
Gemplus
Jane Strachey
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 36 46 61
Email:jane.strachey@gemplus.com
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Samantha Kay
Louise Weston
Tel: 020 7344 1235/1302
samantha.kay@edelman.com
louise.weston@edelman.com
Orange
Orange Media Center
Tel: 020 7984 2000
©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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