Atlanta-based payments outfit First Data Corp is to work with Baltimore Technologies in generating chip-based digital certificates for smart card issuers.
Under the agreement, First Data will use Baltimore's UniCert certificate management system to build a certificate authority to issue, maintain and validate certificates used on chip cards.
"Several large card issuers, such as Fleet Credit Card Services, are interested in providing their cardholders peace of mind when accessing and using the Web for performing transactions with a smart card," says Ann Kennedy, vice president of global smart card business development for First Data.
Aidan Gallagher, executive vice president of global business development for Baltimore Technologies says to the two companies will together provide a scalable and secure smart card lifecycle management programme for card issuers. "Baltimore's advanced registration capabilities will greatly streamline First Data's certificate manufacturing process," he says.