Bangkok--Sep 11--MasterCard International
MasterCard International with Keycorp Limited and Infineon Technologies (formerly Siemens Semiconductor Group), the availability of the world's first 16K MULTOS chip based on Infineon's cryptocontroller SLE66CX160S.
MULTOS is the open, industry-standard, multi-application operating system for smart cards.
The 16K chip features a higher level of security, larger capacity and faster processing performance compared to any product of its kind in the market today. The memory capacities allow multiple applications to be implemented on one chip card. Further, the 16K platform makes it possible to employ high-security applications for various transactions, including banking, mobile communications, and healthcare -- taking smart card technology to a new level.
"The launch reinforces MULTOS' position as the smart card platform of choice and signals that the platform continues to draw a ground swell of support from the top players in the smart card industry. Keycorp and Infineon Technologies are two of the biggest names today and we are pleased to partner with them again on this breakthrough announcement," said Greg Devlin, MasterCard International Senior Vice President, Technology and Business Integration, Asia/Pacific.
"Keycorp's announcement of a new 16K MULTOS chip gives new impetus to the smart card as a tool for banks like us. The ability for a number of lifestyle-oriented functions to be available on a multi-application card will be the key to the development of future bank relationship cards," said Gail Kelly, General Manager, Strategic Marketing at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Chairman of the Australian Mondex Franchise consortium formed by the four largest Australian banks.
This news is the latest development in MasterCard's strategy to provide smart card leadership across the region: * In April 1999, MasterCard was selected as the payment solution provider, including multi-application chip cards, for the Korean Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul. MasterCard Korea is also planning a multi-application chip card for Hangyan University. * In November 1998, financial institutions and the Japanese government selected MULTOS as the operating system for Japan's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications chip card program * In June 1998, MasterCard International and MYCAL Card Company-a unit of MYCAL, Japan's fourth largest retailer-announced the world's first migration from traditional credit cards to multi-application chip cards using the MULTOS operating system. * In January, MULTOS, Keycorp and Infineon Technologies (Siemens Semiconductors at that time) announced the world's first working deployment of an open standard, multiple application smart card operating system. The operating system is included in Keycorp's new smart card which features an adapted MULTOS 4.02 operating system with Infineon's cryptocontroller SLE66CX160S.
MULTOS is licensed and managed by MAOSCO, a consortium of nine leading chip card manufacturers and smart card companies.
About MasterCard
MasterCard International has the most comprehensive portfolio of payment brands in the world. With 23,000 member financial institutions, serving consumers in 220 countries and territories, MasterCard is the industry leader in quality and innovation. Nearly 700 million MasterCard(, Maestro(, Cirrus( and Mondex( cards are in circulation today. With more than 16.2 million locations, no card is accepted in more places and by more merchants than the MasterCard Card. In 1998, gross dollar volume exceeded $650 billion. MasterCard can be reached through its World Wide Web site at http://www.mastercard.com.
About MAOSCO
MAOSCO is an industry wide consortium which was formed in May 1997 to drive the adoption of MULTOS as an industry standard and to manage its on-going development. Members of the consortium include American Express, Discover Financial Services, DNP, Europay International, Fujitsu (including its subsidiaries ICL and Amdahl), Giesecke and Devrient, Hitachi, Keycorp, MasterCard International and Mondex International, Motorola and Infineon Technologies (formerly Siemens Semiconductor Group.)
About Keycorp
Keycorp Limited designs, manufactures and markets complete electronic commerce solutions, incorporating smartcards, Internet commerce, and point-of-service transaction systems. Keycorp is a founding member of the MULTOS consortium, which has responsibility for developing the MULTOS multi-application smart card operating system, and has developed a proprietary multi-application smart card operating system, OSSCA. Keycorp manufactures smartcards, including GSM SIM cards, through its associated company, Cardcorp. Keycorp's electronic payment terminals include smartcard capable on-line and off-line terminals capable of processing credit, charge, debit and stored value transactions. The terminals are designed for use at a retail point of sale, over the phone, in mobile environments or via the Internet, and can communicate with host systems via fixed or mobile communications. http://www.keycorp.net
About Infineon Technologies
Infineon Technologies AG, formerly Siemens' Semiconductor Group, based in Munich, Germany, is the 10th largest semiconductor manufacturer worldwide according to Cahners In-Stat. Group. Infineon provides semiconductor solutions for the telecommunications, automotive, data networking, consumer electronics, and industrial automation markets. The company's comprehensive product portfolio includes integrated system IC's, memory and high frequency components, smart card ICs, discrete semiconductors and power ICs, sensors and fiber optic components. In fiscal 1997/98, the company achieved sales of $3.8 billion (DM 6.7 billion) and employed 25,000 people worldwide. http://www.infineon.com. End.
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