Gemplus delivers high security payment cards to JCB

Companies lead the field with Japan’s deployment of cards enabling Dynamic Data Authentication

Luxembourg and Tokyo, 5 September 2005  – Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 – GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world’s leading provider of smart card solutions, today announced that it has started to deliver multi-application EMV¹ smart card microprocessor modules in mass volume to JCB, the largest card issuer in Japan. Gemplus will deliver the microprocessors over two years, enabling the deployment of Dynamic Data Authentication² (DDA) cards in Japan. JCB has deployed the new smart cards from the end of July 2005.

The development of the microprocessors, designed by Gemplus specifically for this project, was certified in January 2005. Compliant with the latest JCB smart card specifications, these microprocessors enable international transactions.

The modules will be delivered to Toppan Printing Co., a strategic alliance partner of Gemplus in Japan, which receives the orders from JCB. Toppan Printing Co.will embed, personalise the cards and deliver the finished product to JCB. The cards will be equipped with JCB’s own smart application, J/Smart. Additionally, the cards will contain the smart card loyalty application, ‘Plet's’, which allows customers to exchange their points for premiums or discounts at participating retail outlets.

“As Japan’s leading credit card issuer and an international brand, we have set a precedent in offering our customers a more secure way to make purchases, reducing the risk of card fraud. Gemplus has consulted us through each stage of development of this high-tech project, with the added advantage of a local partner who understands the market,” said Kazuhiro Matsumoto, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Advanced Technologies Department, JCB Co.,Ltd.

“This partnership demonstrates Gemplus’ ability to work with regional companies to develop international solutions, incorporating latest technology and specifications.” added Akio Kondo, President and Representative Director of Gemplus Japan. “We enable financial institutions to provide interoperable solutions to their customers, so that they can feel more secure from fraud wherever they are in the world.”

For some years now, Japan - especially JCB - has led the Asia-Pacific region’s EMV migration, making it the second-most active region globally following Europe. In December 2004, JCB acquired one-third ownership in EMVCo, the standards definition organisation for EMV founded by Visa and MasterCard. JCB has an equal voice to Visa and MasterCard and the share in EMVCo allows JCB to accelerate the EMV-enabling of its chip cards.

^1. EMV is a smart card payment standard that was created in 1996 by Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV), guaranteeing worldwide interoperability and security for payment. Benefiting card issuers, acquirers and cardholders, EMV is essential in the reduction of fraud and also provides opportunities for financial institutions to differentiate new services for cardholders.
^2. To reduce the risk of card fraud, EMV standard defined dynamic offline authentication mechanisms based on asymetric cryptography. Both Dynamic Data Authentification (DDA) and Combined Data Authentification (CDA) smart card authentication systems generate an unique signature on every transaction, making it very difficult to copy.

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About Gemplus

Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP) is the world's leading player in the smart card industry in both revenue and total shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest (2004), Frost & Sullivan, Datamonitor). It has sold over 5 billion smart cards.
With security at its core, and 2400 patents and patent applications produced by its innovative R&D team, Gemplus delivers a wide range of portable, personalized solutions in areas including Identity, Mobile Telecommunications, Public Telephony, Banking, Retail, Transport, Healthcare, WLAN, Pay-TV, e-government, and access control.
Gemplus' revenue in 2004 was 865 million Euros.

wwww.gemplus.com

About JCB Co., Ltd.

JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 12.4 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with 55.14 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 350 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart", a commitment to responsive and high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB Co. Ltd. home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbcorporate.com/english.

About Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Toppan was established in 1900 and is one of the largest printing companies in the industry. Toppan bases its operation in printing technology, doing business in a large variety of fields including securities, cards, business printing, publication printing, packages, industrial material, electronics and E-business. As a comprehensive communication industry based on printing technology, Toppan also enjoys abundant achievements.
For more information, visit its website http://www.toppan.co.jp/english/

For more informationn

Steve Lacourt
Gemplus Financial Services Business Unit
Tel: +32 (0) 2 711 48 20
Fax: +32 (0) 2 725 14 60
Email: steve.lacourt@gemplus.com

Emma Williamson
Edelman
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7344 1253
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7344 1222
Email: emma.williamson@edelman.com

©2005 Gemplus. All rights reserved. Gemplus, 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.

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