ViVOtech
and Giesecke & Devrient Confirm Interoperability between G&D
NFC-enabled SIM cards and ViVOtech’s Over-the-Air (OTA) NFC
Infrastructure Software
Interoperability
Test to be Basis for Upcoming NFC Field Trial with a Large European
Mobile Network Operator (MNO) and Issuer Bank
Munich,
Germany and Santa Clara, California -- September 09, 2008
– Continuing to deliver the latest technologies for powering
the most flexible and open Near Field Communications (NFC) mobile
payment systems, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) and ViVOtech,
two global leaders in NFC technology today announced that their
respective technologies are interoperable following successfully
concluded testing between their NFC products. Now applications stored
on NFC-enabled SIM cards made by G&D can be managed through
NFC over-the-air (OTA) provisioning server software developed by
ViVOtech.
The G&D and
ViVOtech interoperable solution is the first to enable OTA provisioning
of not only the financial account applet (virtual card) but also
provisions the complete payment applet to the SIM card. The companies
jointly confirmed the test was successfully performed using multiple
Single Wire Protocol (SWP) prototype mobile phone models. ViVOtech
and G&D plan to use this joint technology infrastructure as
the basis for an upcoming NFC field trial with a Large European
MNO and Issuer Bank.
G&D,
as a leading manufacturer of SIM cards, has developed the ProxSIM
product line of NFC-enabled SIM cards for this purpose. It is based
on Single Wire Protocol (SWP) standard defined to link the SIM card
with the NFC chip in a mobile phone. The European Telecommunications
Standards Institute (ETSI) adopted this standard in October 2007.
Using the joint
solution, NFC applications are loaded onto the SIM card through
special OTA servers – that is, via the mobile network –
and updated by the same means throughout their lifecycle in the
field. ViVOtech is a leading provider of NFC OTA provisioning servers
that are used by Trusted Service Managers (TSM) to provide OTA services
to mobile network operators and service providers while ensuring
that the applications remain under the full and exclusive control
of the respective service provider.
“The joint
interoperability tests with ViVOtech send an important signal to
everyone involved in NFC applications: If they use our ProxSIM cards,
they can rely on the latest and future-proof technology of NFC-enabled
SIM cards and compatible standards for future NFC systems. This,
coupled with the experience that we have garnered from numerous
NFC projects all over the world, enable us together to forge ahead
with the wide-scale introduction of NFC,” states Dr. Klaus
Vedder, head of the Telecommunications division at G&D.
“Successfully
completing an interoperability test with a key leader in SIM chip
technology such as Giesecke & Devrient’s shows our vision
of delivering the most open and interoperable solution to the NFC
market” said Michael Mullagh, CEO of ViVOtech. “With
widely tested multi-application NFC software deployed in 25 NFC
payment field pilots, and more than 450,000 NFC readers shipped
to over 30 countries, ViVOtech is uniquely well positioned to enable
mobile network operators, financial service providers, and merchants
to quickly roll out of their NFC mobile payment solutions.”
NFC is an innovative,
wireless radio transmission technology for the contactless exchange
of data within a range of a few centimeters, for example between
an NFC-enabled mobile phone and an NFC reader in a store or at a
turnstile in a transit station. A mobile phone equipped with a payment
function can be securely used by consumers for simple and rapid
payments when held against the NFC reader. The SIM card makes an
ideal solution for the secure storage of NFC applications such as
a credit card or even transit ticket information through a mobile
phone.
For
more information about NFC-enabled technologies, go to G&D at
www.gi-de.com or ViVOtech at www.vivotech.com.
About
G&D
Giesecke &
Devrient (G&D) is a technology leader in the field of smart
cards, providing smart-card based solutions for telecommunications,
electronic payment, healthcare, ID, transportation, and IT security
(PKI). G&D is also a leading producer of banknotes and security
documents and is dominant in the field of currency automation. Based
in Munich, Germany, the G&D Group operates subsidiaries and
joint ventures around the world. In fiscal 2007, the Group employed
close to 9,000 people and generated revenues of over €1.5 billion.
For more information, visit our website at www.gi-de.com.
About
ViVOtech
ViVOtech (www.vivotech.com) is the market leader in near field communication
(NFC) mobile payments, promotions and Over-the-Air (OTA) provisioning
infrastructure software, transaction management software, NFC smart
posters, and contactless terminals. These innovative solutions allow
millions of consumers to make contactless payments with radio frequency-enabled
credit/debit cards, fobs and NFC mobile phones. ViVOtech's products
are used by the most prominent retailers all over the globe and
today the company has shipped over 450,000 contactless terminals
to more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2008, ViVOtech has been
named #1 in ABI Research’s Contactless & NFC Reader Ranking
Report. ViVOtech was also recognized as Top Contactless Payment
Technology Vendor in Aberdeen Group’s “Retail Contactless
Payment Report.” ViVOtech has received strategic investments
from First Data Corporation, a leading provider of electronic and
payment solutions for businesses worldwide, Citi, the leading global
financial services company, NCR Corporation, a leading global technology
company helping businesses build stronger relationship with their
customers and Motorola, known globally for innovation and leadership
in wireless and broadband communications.
Editorial Contact:
Kristin Miller
SS|PR representing ViVOtech, Inc.
kmiller@sspr.com
(719) 634-8292
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