Following the success of the first-generation Mobile Security Card 3.1 microSD for security applications, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is now pleased to present its successor.
Like its predecessor, the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 incorporates a cryptocontroller, which provides security for cell phones, smartphones, notebooks and other mobile terminal devices without needing a smart card reader. The new version, the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0, will be on show in conjunction with BlackBerry® smartphones in the G&D Pavilion (Avenue AV 103) and on the RIM stand (Hall 8, Stand 8B178) at the Mobile World Congress from February 15 to 18, 2010, in Barcelona.
The Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 has 2 GBytes of memory, which is double that of its predecessor, and uses version 5.0 of the Sm@rtCafé® Expert smart card operating system, which is certified by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The card's hardware conforms to the Common Criteria (CC) EAL 5+ security standard, and the software meets the requirements of CC EAL 4+. The security solution is supported by mobile operating system platforms such as MS Windows MobileTM, BlackBerry® Device Software, Symbian OS, Android OS and Linux®. The Mobile Security Card also works with Windows and Linux PC platforms for use in netbooks and notebooks.
Inserted into the microSD card slot on mobile devices, the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 handles user authentication as well as encryption and signature operations as an independent cryptomodule. In a two-factor process, the user authenticates himself to the Mobile Security Card and only gains access to the mobile device if the information matches. The microSD card can be used for various security scenarios, e.g. for mobile office and banking applications. Providers of independent software can flexibly develop their own security solutions for use with the Mobile Security Card.
On BlackBerry smartphones the card integrates itself in the BlackBerry Device Software 5.0 and handles user-friendly encryption and signature of e-mail traffic and the device memory. With their combination of security and user-friendliness, BlackBerry smartphones featuring this operating system version will provide significant added value in professional corporate use. The Mobile Security Card can also be used with an additional driver software on Smartphones using the BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.
Development and distribution of the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 is being handled by Giesecke & Devrient Secure Flash Solutions (G&D SFS), a joint venture of G&D and Phison Electronics Corp. Samples of the microSD card are already available from G&D SFS and commercial delivery of the cards to system integrators and value-added resellers will commence at the end of March.