Collis will provide both Pre-mask and Post-mask Type Approval Services. The integrated combination of Collis' MULTOS Interoperability Testing Platform and Collis' Interoperability Testing Type Approval Services ensures a fast and efficient response and reduces time-to-market.

The MULTOS Consortium has appointed Collis as an approved provider of Post-mask Type Approval Services. Vendors have to pass Post-mask Type Approval Services prior to distribution of their products in the field. Collis will also be providing Pre-mask Interoperability Testing Services. Collis' consulting services will be related to the investigation of issues identified by the execution of the Interoperability Testing. Furthermore, Collis will also provide consulting services in relation to the enhancement of the interoperability testing platform to support a particular implementation.

Collis' MULTOS ITP (Interoperability Testing Platform) allows MULTOS Consortium Members to perform efficient type approval pre-testing of their implementations, speeding up the development process and shortening time-to-market. Collis' MULTOS ITP supports testing of both MULTOS and MULTOS step/one. MULTOS is the high security, multi-application operating system for smart cards.

Dirk Jan van den Heuvel, Managing Director of Collis, says: "We are very pleased to be appointed as an approved provider of MULTOS Interoperability Testing Type Approval services. The commercial availability of interoperability testing type approval services guarantees a fast and efficient response. The effective combination of Collis' MULTOS ITP and Collis' Interoperability Testing Type Approval Services ensures a more simplified implementation process and reduces the time-to-market."

Alan Johnson, Technical Director of The MULTOS Consortium, said: "The MULTOS Consortium is delighted to appoint Collis as a provider of Type Approval services. Our MULTOS and MULTOS step/one licensees and customers will benefit greatly from Collis' knowledge and experience of MULTOS and of testing many other types of smart card. The mandatory, rigorous Type Approval process of MULTOS ensures unparalleled interoperability between platforms from different OS implementers. Collis will play a key role in ensuring such high standards are upheld. Everyone in The MULTOS Consortium looks forward to working with Collis to maintain the delivery of high security, truly interoperable MULTOS and MULTOS step/one platforms to our customers."