1999-10-18 , ESC-9990
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

One million GalactIC bank cards based on Philips Semiconductors' smart card crypto controllers to spearhead multi-application banking smart cards

De La Rue Card Systems has reinforced its position as the global leader for open platform technology with the announcement of an order for one million of its GalactIC smart cards. The Java based multi-application cards feature high-security WE controllers from Philips Semiconductors, the largest European semiconductor manufacturer, and are being supplied to a major banking organisation. This win represents the single largest volume order for multi-application banking smart cards world-wide.

Based on a Java Card 2.1, the GalactIC cards are also the first to offer Visa Open Platform 2.0 compliance. Initially, each card will feature an Internet payment application as well as a credit facility, allowing secure access to e-commerce and online transactions. Providing spare memory capacity, the 32 kilobyte GalactIC cards will also be upgradeable enabling additional Java applets to be downloaded to cards in the field, so that subscribers can take advantage of new applications as they arise without needing a replacement card.

The P8WE5032 crypto controller used for these GalactIC cards is a member of Philips Semiconductors' highly advanced WE range, the world's first smart card controller family manufactured on 0.35 µm process technology. Evaluated by independent authorities, the chip features a high-speed triple-DES coprocessor, the FameX crypto engine for public key encryption and provides the highest security against recent attacks thanks to its unique chip design.

Christophe Dolique, Marketing Director of De La Rue Card Systems comments, "This is the first volume banking order for our acclaimed GalactIC card and we believe it reflects the current market drive towards secure e-commerce and multi-applications. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Philips Semiconductors to deliver this unique solution that will offer the banking sector compelling applications today and also in the future."

Alexander Harrer, product line manager Chip Card ICs at Philips Semiconductors added, "We are proud to be the first semiconductor company to participate in such a project, confirming our leading position as a supplier of innovative high-security smart card ICs for the financial sector. De La Rue and Philips Semiconductors have worked hand-in-hand to create the most sophisticated, field upgradeable, flexible and secure card proposition available. We believe that it will set a new precedent for the introduction of smart card based multi-applications."

In the competitive banking arena, brand is crucial and, as part of the contract, De La Rue Card Systems was challenged to create a card that incorporated a number of distinctive design features. Working closely with the customer, it has produced a card that is not just distinctive in terms of specification but also in style and appearance.

In addition to complying with the Java Card 2.1 specification, the GalactIC 2.1 card features DES, triple-DES, RSA and SHA cryptographic functions and has undergone stringent security evaluation to bring it in line with Common Criteria requirements. As well as providing the card mask, De La Rue will also manufacture the plastic and manage the embedding and application loading processes.

De La Rue Card Systems, whose 1999 turnover was £139.1m, is a major supplier of VISA and MasterCard cards world-wide and a world leader in the development and delivery of electronic and mobile commerce solutions. Currently under acquisition by Oberthur Smart Cards, De La Rue Card Systems is also the N°1 supplier of Pay-TV smart cards. As a leading provider of smart card solutions to customers in banking, telecoms, loyalty, transport, and Pay TV, De La Rue Card Systems is committed to open standards and supports Java Card, the Visa Open Platform, MULTOS and Microsoft Windows Card.

Oberthur Smart Cards is the card division of François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire. With a 1998 turnover of FF2 billion and 2900 employees world-wide, François-Charles Oberthur Fiduciaire is, prior to the De La Rue Card Systems acquisition, the N°3 high security printer (banknotes, passports etc...) and the N°1 instant lottery producer world-wide.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier based on Dataquest's 1998 report*. Philips Semiconductors is a leader with a proven reputation in the development and production of high security controller ICs and contactless smart card ICs as well as in components for radio frequency identification. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by regional application labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at http://cdrom.semiconductors.com/

* Based on Vendor Revenue from Shipments of Total Semiconductors Worldwide according to Dataquest's 1998 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share report published in May, 1999.

Java is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems.