Oberthur says it will use SmartTrust’s technology to bring secure digital signature and smart card functionality to a comprehensive range of e-commerce solutions.

One of the first packages to be released under the alliance will be an Identrus-ready solution, offering financial institutions fast-track entry to the bank-backed Identrus e-trust network.

Anders Hoffmann, vice president sales, Americas, at Sonera SmartTrust says: "By enabling such ready-to-go packages we are moving commercially strong security solutions into the mass-market; this is key to the continuing growth of e-commerce and the success of services such as those provided by Identrus."

He says the partnership will also seek to deliver secure banking solutions across a variety of channels, "from PCs to mobile phones".