The launch of the GlobalPlatform Qualified Compliance Program is timed to support the high growth of the mobile services market, and is central to satisfying the industry's need for an interoperable and flexible ecosystem for secure chip application deployment and management.

GlobalPlatform - the organization which standardizes the management of applications on secure chip technology - has provided the quality stamp to the Galitt KaNest®-ICC GP UICC Card Test Suite and the RFI Global laboratory, and will soon also release the quality stamp for Applus+ LGAI Technological Center laboratory. Further test tool suppliers and laboratories are in the process of being reviewed and undergoing GlobalPlatform certification.

Using a GlobalPlatform qualified tool, an approved laboratory can now officially test that a product has successfully integrated GlobalPlatform's functional requirements for Card Specification v2.2 UICC Configuration. The GlobalPlatform qualification process will play a key role in validating the compliance of products to create sustainable and trusted end-to-end solutions which serve multiple actors and support several business models.

Gil Bernabeu, GlobalPlatform's Technical Director and Technical Advisor for the Standardization and Technology Department at Gemalto, comments: "GlobalPlatform extended its compliance program in late 2009 to focus on market specific configurations, which are the guidelines to implementing GlobalPlatform technology in a given sector, rather than validate compliance to an entire GlobalPlatform Specification. This approach, therefore, allows us to support different markets adopting our technology and ensures long-term interoperability.

"We are delighted to officially validate the first GlobalPlatform qualified test tool and laboratories. These providers have gone through a rigorous examination process and leave us with the utmost confidence that card configurations based on GlobalPlatform form Card Specification v2.2, which are submitted for GlobalPlatform testing will be effectively compliant and interoperable. Our next step is to advance testing tools for financial and government sector deployments including micro SD format."

Gerard de Moura, Managing Director of GALITT, adds: "GALITT is proud to offer the first GlobalPlatform qualified test tool ready for use by vendors and laboratories. We consider the GlobalPlatform Card Compliance Program as a strategic investment for both the industry and GALITT. GlobalPlatform's UICC Card Test Suite is part of a wider range of card test tools, already offered by GALITT. This range will continue to expand with additional configurations, such as the GlobalPlatform Mapping Guidelines, in the coming months."

Hugues Thiebeauld, Emerging Technologies Manager at RFI Global, says: "I am very pleased that RFI has qualified for the GlobalPlatform Compliance Program. We trust this program will boost the adoption of GlobalPlatform technology in secure transaction systems. RFI is committed to assisting its customers with the integration of GlobalPlatform technology in their products."

Xavier Vilarrubla, Director of IT and Gaming at Applus+ LGAI, concludes: "The GlobalPlatform Compliance Program will ensure that GlobalPlatform products implemented in a mobile services environment are truly standardized. By allowing the evaluation of a GlobalPlatform product's compliance against a GlobalPlatform Configuration, the program enables the development of test tools which can be used to attain laboratory accreditation for products which undergo successful testing. We are pleased to be a part of this process as it contributes to greater knowledge sharing, technical improvements and gives Applus+ the opportunity to offer better and wider services to our customers."