Near Field Communications Handsets and Tags, NFC Pilots and Projects

G&D releases updated microSD Mobile Security card

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) has announced the release of its new Mobile Security Card SE 1.0, an upgraded version of the first-generation Mobile Security Card 3.1 microSD for security applications.

The upgraded card incorporates a cryptocontroller, which provides security for cell phones, smart phones, notebooks and other mobile terminal devices without needing a smart card reader.


The Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 has 2 GBytes of memory, double that of its predecessor, and uses version 5.0 of the Sm@rtCafé Expert smart card operating system, which is certified by Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

The security solution is supported by mobile operating system platforms such as MS Windows Mobile, BlackBerry Device Software, Symbian OS, Android OS and Linux. The Mobile Security Card also works with Windows and Linux PC platforms for use in netbooks and notebooks.

Inserted into the microSD card slot on mobile devices, the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0 handles user authentication as well as encryption and signature operations as an independent cryptomodule. In a two-factor process, the user authenticates himself to the Mobile Security Card and only gains access to the mobile device if the information matches.

The microSD card can be used for various security scenarios, such as mobile office and banking applications. Additionally, independent software providers can develop their own security solutions for use with the Mobile Security Card.

The new version, the Mobile Security Card SE 1.0, will be on show in conjunction with BlackBerry smartphones in the G&D Pavilion (Avenue AV 103) and on the RIM stand (Hall 8, Stand 8B178) at the Mobile World Congress from Feb. 15 to 18 in Barcelona. [end] 

PayPal has begun testing new mobile payments software at five Home Depot stores in the U.S., according to American Banker.

PayPal’s system offers an alternative to NFC-based mobile payments solutions like Google Wallet, enabling consumers to make payments directly from their PayPal balance by simply punching in their phone number and PIN. Merchants also have a comparatively easier time adopting the system, as it only requires updated software rather than new point of sale equipment.

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Swedish mobile operators Telia, Tele2, Telenor and 3 have formed a joint venture to offer a unified mobile wallet service. Operating under the name “4T,” the partners plan to deliver a mobile payments service that can be used on all handsets regardless of the cellular network.

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The Auriemma Consulting Group (ACG) has announced the launch of its new Mobile Payments Report, a market research service that examines the mobile phone as a payments device, financial managing tool, marketing channel and as a method of engaging with consumers.

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Barnes International announced that its updated Visa GPR Test module now complies with the latest version of Visa’s Global Personalization Requirements.

The updated test tool will offer evaluation of a chip product to ensure it meets industry and payment scheme certification standards. This reduces a product’s time to market as the chip is aligned to Visa Specifications throughout the development life cycle and before applying for official Visa approval.

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DeviceFidelity and SpringCard have unveiled moneto, a multiplatform mobile wallet solution for iPhone and Android users.

Much like DeviceFidelity’s In2Pay solution, moneto relies on a protective iPhone case equipped with an NFC-enabled microSD card. The moneto mobile wallet is powered by MasterCard PayPass technology and linked to a reloadable MasterCard prepaid card to enable contactless mobile purchases wherever PayPass is accepted.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced that it will hold a workshop on April 26 to examine the use of mobile payments and how this emerging technology impacts consumers.

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