Oberthur Technologies and STMicroelectronics Team Up for NFC(1) MIFARE DESFire™ SIM Card

PARIS, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CARTES and IDentification – Oberthur Technologies, the world's second largest provider of smart card based solutions, and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in secure microcontroller ICs, today announced that they are working together to provide a new highly secure SIM solution that will allow travelers and commuters to use their NFC enabled mobile phones as an electronic ticket.

With the proven success of pre-commercial launches for NFC technology, Oberthur Technologies has enabled its OPERA FlyBuy SIM cards to be used in transport infrastructure services that are based on MIFARE DESFire technology. NFC enables a simple and easy commute for mobile users, as well as a multitude of secure applications in the field of payment, identification and loyalty.

The Oberthur Technologies product is based on the highly secure ST33 microcontroller and on the MIFARE DESFire Library developed by ST. Oberthur Technologies ported its state-of-the-art (U)SIM NFC operating system and completed the development of the transport application. Thanks to this development and to the complete ST33 family, Oberthur Technologies will offer a wide portfolio of MIFARE DESFire-enabled SIM cards to its customers, with free memory ranging from 128KB to 768KB and security level required by EMVCo and Common Criteria certifications.

"The NFC market relies on enhanced security and high memory capacity to support a wide range of services, including payment, identity and transport," said Cedric Collomb, General Manager Cards & Services, Oberthur Technologies. "We are proud to contribute with ST to the development of this promising market opportunity."

"ST is delighted to be working with recognized leaders in the NFC arena such as Oberthur Technologies," said Marie-France Florentin, General Manager, Secure Microcontrollers Division, STMicroelectronics. "The use of ST technology in this new SIM card range demonstrates ST's strong commitment to provide the widest range of secure devices for NFC solutions, in addition to ST's own NFC controller chip."

This product will be demonstrated at the 'CARTES and IDentification' exhibition (Paris, December 7-9, 2010), on both the Oberthur Technologies (#3E 001) and ST (#3E 036) booths.

About Oberthur Technologies

With sales of 904.6 million euros in 2009 and 6,160 employees worldwide, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure technologies. Innovation and excellence ensure Oberthur Technologies' strong positioning in its main target markets:

• Card Systems: World's second largest provider of security and identification solutions and services based on smart card technologies for mobile, payment, transport, digital TV and convergence markets.
• Identity: A world leader in the manufacture of traditional and electronic secure identity documents. We are also a system integrator and a specialist in know-how transfer - census, personalisation platforms implementation and identity data management.
• Security Printing:  World's third largest private security printer specialized in the production of banknotes, checks and numerous security documents in more than fifty countries.
• Cash Protection: World leader in design and manufacture of intelligent cash protection solutions for CIT (Cash In Transit) companies, ATM manufacturers and owners, retailers, post offices and banks.

Close to its customers, Oberthur Technologies benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents.

Oberthur Technologies S.A. is a limited liability company (societe anonyme) registered in France with its headquarter office at 50 quai Michelet 92 532 Levallois Perret, France. Oberthur Technologies S.A.'s corporate registration number is 340 709 534 R.C.S. Nanterre.

Website: www.oberthur.com

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2009, the Company's net revenues were $8.51 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.  

MIFARE and DESFire are registered trademarks of NXP B.V in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, and are used under license.

(1) Near Field Communication

SOURCE STMicroelectronics