Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital
security, today announced that it has been selected by TIM (Telecom
Italia Mobile), the leading telecom operator in Italy, to support the
launch of an unprecedented NFC
(Near Field Communication) program in Trento. Gemalto provides TIM
with transport applications embedded in the SIM cards to allow TIM
customers to use their mobile phone as a convenient access device to
take public transportation. Gemalto and TIM are together paving the way for the mobile contactless
deployment in Italy.Thanks to mobile contactless, travelling becomes
easier and faster. With Gemalto´s technology
ticket issuance becomes more efficient and interactive. Users are able
to purchase tickets from anywhere at anytime through their mobile phone.
And travelers can validate their transport pass even when the battery of
their mobile phone is off. Benefits of contactless access to transport are indisputable. Every
end-user is easily convinced that NFC transport ticketing service is
easy-to-use and quick. The transport operator enjoys it to reduce the
cost of ticket issuance, to greatly reduce access point´s
maintenance expenses, harness fraud and enrich the users travel
experience by offering convenient travel information such as timetables
and location maps. The mobile operator leverages the value-added created
by driving new usage scenarios, by reducing churn, and by growing a new
business from these daily and touristic users. In that triple-headed ecosystem, Gemalto acts as a facilitator
providing its trust sharing services and its expertise accumulated
worldwide in order to deploy innovation in the best way. As a well
recognized trusted services company Gemalto ensures transport operators
that their ticketing and transportation services rights will be securely
distributed and managed over-the-air by the mobile services operators
for their customers. Gemalto has already conducted several programs on various NFC transport
infrastructures. In Western Europe for example, in 2005, Gemalto joined
together with Bouygues Telecom and RATP to launch the first SIM-based
contactless system in Paris. In 2006, Gemalto working also with Bouygues
Telecom, and with regional operator Transdev, delivered a contactless
program covering Grenoble and its region, including smart posters so
that end users can download maps on their mobiles. In 2007, Gemalto
proposed to SFR and RATP in Paris an enhanced system encompassing in
particular an advanced user interface managed by a sophisticated tiny
smart card embedded web server that leverages the handsets browser
features. The same year, SFR, NRJ Mobile, Compagnie des Transports
Strasbourgeois and Gemalto put in service the first extended NFC program
that features both payment and transport applications using the same
SIM. In 2007 also, Gemalto associated with Orange, SNCF and Keolis
provided Rennes´ region inhabitants with a
comprehensive multi-modal set of contactless services: bus, trams
trains, parking and smart posters. It is so along a long line of
innovation in transportation applications that in 2008, TIM and Gemalto
now deploy the first NFC contactless system in Italy. By deeply understanding transport operators´ requirements across many
years, Gemalto has succeeded in developing a well-tested and complete
line of NFC operated service for mobile transportation, designed to ease
and speed the deployment of contactless applications and simplify their
lifecycle management. Versatile SIM cards, comprehensive security
functions, specific applications with optimized user interfaces, OTA
personalization services, secure application download, trusted service
management and NFC mobile ticketing features are key elements that
Gemalto provides which have clearly proven their effectiveness in the
field. "Our experience of multiple local transport markets has
strengthened our overall expertise in the matter of contactless,"
commented Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice
President, Telecom at Gemalto. "Contactless
transport infrastructures have already been deployed in hundreds of
cities all over the world; users rapidly adopt the technology and enjoy
the strong benefits that it offers. That is why we forecast that
transportation applications will be essential to the take-off of NFC
services on mobile phones." About Gemalto Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the leader in digital
security with pro forma 2007 annual revenues of over ?1.6
billion, more than 85 offices in 40 countries and about 10,000 employees
including 1,300 R&D engineers. In a world where the digital revolution is increasingly transforming our
lives, Gemalto´s solutions are designed to
make personal digital interactions more convenient, secure and enjoyable. Gemalto provides end-to-end solutions for digital security, from the
development of software applications, through the design and production
of secure personal devices such as smart cards, SIMs, e-passports, and
tokens to the deployment of managed services for its customers. More than a billion people worldwide use the company´s products and
services for telecommunications, financial services, e-government
identity and access management, multimedia content, digital rights
management, IT security, mass transit and many other applications. As the use of Gemalto´s software and secure
devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital
and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming
years. Gemalto was formed in June 2006 by the combination of Axalto and Gemplus. For more information please visit www.gemalto.com
