Gemplus, Apeera, Digital Bridges and esmertec Secure Java^TM Applications for Mobile Telephony

Securing Mobile JavaTM Applications through the SIM card

• Giving Mobile Operators the control over JavaTM Application distribution
• Securing Java application execution through the SIM
• Securing peer-to-peer sharing of Java applications between subscribers
• Live demonstration to be shown at the 3GSM World Congress 2003

Cannes, 18 February 2003 - Gemplus (Paris Euronext: Euroclear 5768 and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart card solutions, Apeera, Digital Bridges and esmertec today announced a technology demonstration at 3GSM World Congress 3003 in Cannes for securing distributed Java applications, powered by a GSM/GPRS solution from Agere Systems. This enables the Mobile Operator to control and manage the distribution of Java applications through the SIM card.

Within the Java developer community, there are two burning issues: how to secure services and applications in an open environment, and how to ensure secure Java application download and distribution. Gemplus, Apeera and esmertec have worked together to create the first end-to-end solution that secures Java download, allows peer-to-peer sharing and improves application execution.

This solution, using the Java Virtual Machine, Jbed™ ME from esmertec and a software interface developed by Apeera, has two main benefits. It enables mobile Java applications to be securely managed, enabled or disabled through the SIM card. The distribution of applications between different end-users can be controlled and therefore billed for by the Mobile Operator. With such a secure peer-to-peer distribution infrastructure, mobile network operators will dramatically enhance the Java application distribution.

At the 3GSM Congress 2003, Gemplus will be demonstrating the end-to-end secure application management solution using GemXplore 'Xpresso, the Java SIM card, GemConnect OTA, Gemplus' Over The Air platform, esmertec's Jbed ME, the smallest and fastest Java Virtual Machine available for mobile phones and resource constrained devices, a Java-enabled handset powered by Agere chipset and the application management solution from Apeera. This will be illustrated with Digital Bridge's J2ME game, "Men In Black IIÔ: Same Planet. New Scum", using an application on the SIM to store the various game levels corresponding to the user's rights. All applications can be securely managed through the SIM card and distributed between peers according to the Operators' business policies.

Philippe Vallée, President of the Telecom Business Unit, Gemplus, said "The SIM has always been the key element in providing secure network access and this role has evolved to providing a secure platform for browsing, payment and content delivery. We see the SIM as having a fundamental part to play in the future of mobile application download. Projects such as this enable us to demonstrate the value of the SIM is completing the Java value chain."

Come to the Gemplus booth (B19 - Palais des Congrès) or cross the Croisette to visit the Gemplus Experience Center to discover the opportunities that go beyond smart.

About Gemplus

GEMPLUS: 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, 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 & 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 2002 was 787 million Euros. It employs 5766 people in 37 countries throughout the world.

Gemplus: Beyond Smart
www.gemplus.com

About Apeera

Apeera Inc is a privately owned company providing an Application Management system that will empower the way mobile operators manage, distribute and offer applications on remote devices. Apeera provides Mobile Service Provider with a solution to increase acceptance level for new mobile data services and reduce entry barriers for new applications such as mobile games-across all devices and across all networks. Apeera enables managed peer-to-peer sharing (also known as controlled super-distribution) through the SIM card. Apeera: empowering personal mobility, www.apeera.com

About Digital Bridges

Founded in 1998, Digital Bridges is a world leader in the creation and distribution of mobile entertainment solutions. An industry pioneer, Digital Bridges provides the best in mobile entertainment to a global distribution network of operators, portals, retailers, interactive TV channels and other e-commerce outlets, representing over 300 million subscribers worldwide. The company possesses a unique combination of mobile technology, development and publishing expertise, and works with many of the world's leading media and entertainment brands including Star Trek, Big Brother, Scooby-Doo, Thunderbirds, Cartoon Network, Ali G Indahouse, Men in Black, The Weakest Link, Space Invaders, EA SPORTS FIFA 2003 and EA SPORTS Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf*. UNITYTM, the company's best-in-class technology platform, supports all current and future mobile standards, protocols, technologies and operating systems. Digital Bridges' investors include Apax Partners, Argo Global Capital and Openwave Systems Inc. Digital Bridges has its commercial headquarters in London, with technology & publishing divisions in Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as sales offices around the world.

For more information, please call +44 (0)20 7901 1760 or visit us at www.digitalbridges.com 

*All brands are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

About esmertec

esmertec is the leading software company focusing on Java™ and mobile software technologies for handheld systems. Considered to be one of the most important players in the independent VM supplier space, its flagship product, Jbed™ ME, certified by Sun Microsystems, delivers high performance computing on small devices to service providers, mobile device manufacturers and application developers. Founded in 1999, esmertec is based in Switzerland with sales, engineering and support offices in the United States and Singapore and representation in Japan

Contacts

Vanessa Clarke
Edelman PR
+44 (0) 20 7344 1349
Vanessa.Clarke@edelman.com

Jane Strachey
Gemplus
Tel +33 (0) 442364661
Jane.strachey@gemplus.com

Annalie Cook
Apeera
+44(0) 20 8564 6324
Annalie.Cook@harvard.co.uk

Sylvia Braunle
Digital Bridges
+44-20-7901-1792
sylvia.braunle@digitalbridges.com

Deborah Marzohl
esmertec
+41 1 823 8918
dmarzohl@esmertec.com

©2003 Gemplus. All rights reserved. Gemplus and the Gemplus logo are trademarks and service marks of Gemplus 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. Sun, Java and Java Card are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.