VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, and Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart card solutions, today announced a new SIM-based authentication solution for wireless carriers.
This new solution provides wireless carriers with a scalable, open standards-based strong authentication solution that gives their customers the ability to conduct remote transactions with confidence and ease.
The SIM-based authentication solution utilises the VeriSign(R) Unified Authentication platform and GemXplore 'Xpresso Java CardTM SIMs from Gemplus. This joint offer is advantageous to service providers as it is quick to deploy and offers excellent time-to-market availability. There is no password to remember for the end-user, which makes it easy to use with no compromise in security.
VeriSign Unified Authentication is a single, integrated platform for provisioning and managing all types of two-factor authentication credentials. VeriSign Unified Authentication reduces the cost and complexity of strong authentication by integrating with an enterprise's existing IT infrastructure, including leading directory and application servers, thus eliminating the need for additional hardware and software on a corporate IT network. Both VeriSign and Gemplus are operating according to standards set forth by the Initiative for Open AuTHentication, (OATH).
"Today's authentication solutions are proprietary, expensive to scale and do not support multiple forms of authentication. This inhibits carriers from offering new services to subscribers and ultimately generating new revenue," said Vernon Irvin, executive vice president, VeriSign Communications Sevices. "The combined security expertise from both VeriSign and Gemplus provides an end-to-end security solution from the infrastructure level to the token level providing carriers with a service that is highly scalable and flexible, while cost-effective and easy to deploy."
The VeriSign and Gemplus SIM Authentication Solution supports several types of authentication options including One Time Password (OTP) and Digital Certificates, stored within the SIM. Service features are:
- SIM Issuance: The SIM is enabled with an OTP applet to transform a standard handset into a secure authentication token
- Activation Service: An Over The Air (OTA) mechanism is implemented to activate the service in the SIM, thus facilitating solution deployment
- Validation Service: The validation server processes authentication requests before granting access to the corporate Intranet or the e-banking service
- Remote Administration Service: The OTA Channel is used to remotely manage user rights and OTP parameters
"The SIM is already widely recognised as a secure and strategic element of an operator's mobile network. This initiative enables us to bring the same level of security and confidence, through SIM-based strong authentication, to the enterprise as well as provide a value-added service for the end user," said Philippe Vallée, executive vice president, Telecom Business Unit, Gemplus. "We are pleased to work with VeriSign to offer carriers a comprehensive solution that takes advantage of the best that both companies have to offer."
The VeriSign and Gemplus SIM-Based Authentication solution will be available in the second half of 2005. The solution will be available in all 3GSM markets.