Combining the companies' relevant technologies and expertise, the platform will be designed as a complete, easy-to-use solution, which will enable a host of security software applications and address the needs of a wide spectrum of vertical markets served by smart cards.

"Current two-factor solutions developed to combat the growing problems of identity theft, phishing and other breaches of security are complicated and typically inconvenient for most people. The secure-storage token platform to be jointly developed by our companies is intended to simplify user experience," said Marc Bertin, business development director of Oberthur Card Systems. "By combining enhanced security token capabilities with high-density storage and a USB interface compatible with most computers and operating systems, two-factor authentication and specialized software applications can be made simple and readily available to the end users."

Network security is greatly enhanced by two-factor authentication, which combines something the user physically carries, such as a secure-storage token, and something the user knows, such as a personal password. This two factor authentication can also be combined in the future with biometry (fingerprint) for user identification.

"With the rise of identity theft as a modern day global epidemic across many vertical markets, there is a strong need for storage devices offering a high level of security that enables two-factor authentication," said Noam Kedem, vice president marketing for M-Systems. "Building upon our experience with Oberthur Card Systems, we plan to bring an innovative, secure storage and ID solution to high volume vertical markets. This solution will be designed to offer a very high level of protection for personal data and identification information, along with the ease of use, mobility and high-density storage associated with the highly popular USB interface. These new platforms will likely enable both our companies' penetration into new vertical markets and access to new customers and revenue streams."