AmEx/CPQ using Gemplus keyboard...
This makes sense as Gemplus is the maker of the GCR415 reader that is distributed with the Blue Card.
biz.yahoo.com
Press Release
SOURCE: American Express and Compaq Computer Corporation
Online Shoppers With Smart Card-Enabled PC Keyboard
American Express Offers Compaq Smart Card Keyboard To Consumer and Small Business Blue Customers
NEW YORK, Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the holiday online shopping season,
American Express (NYSE: AXP - news) and Compaq Computer Corporation
(NYSE: CPQ - news) announced that they have joined to make Compaq Smart Card
Keyboards available to customers of Blue from American Express and Blue for
Business, both traditional credit cards with a smart chip that enhances online security.
``American Express and Compaq share the commitment to help our customers make the
most of the Internet,'' said Mike Pocock, Vice President and General Manager,
Commercial Personal Computing Group at Compaq Computer Corp. ``Convenient and
affordable, Compaq's Smart Card Keyboard helps make online shopping more
secure for individuals and small businesses.''
Specially priced at $59.95 for Blue customers, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is a
standard PC-compatible keyboard with a built-in smart card reader, ideally suited
for individuals and small businesses that desire enhanced security during online
transactions. In addition, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard provides extra convenience to
customers, since an additional piece of hardware is no longer needed when using a smart
card with a PC.
``Today's announcement continues the evolution of the smart card market,'' said Martin
Wittwer, Vice President, Smart Card Enterprise Development at American
Express. ``We are delighted to work with Compaq to help make smart cards a standard part
of desktop computing and provide Blue customers with even greater
convenience.''
The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is a full-sized, 104-key keyboard that provides
customers with enhanced online security through smart card authentication. The
smart card reader is located on the right-hand side of the keyboard. When customers of Blue
from American Express and Blue for Business wish to shop online, they
simply insert Blue into the keyboard's smart card reader. The Cardmember is prompted to
enter a PIN. The digital certificate stored on the Blue smart chip is read once the
PIN is verified. This two-factor security -- the PIN in combination with the digital certificate
stored on the chip -- authenticates the Cardmember, enhancing online
security.
The Compaq Smart Card Keyboard meets smart card industry standards, including EMV
and PCSC, allowing Blue, as well as other smart cards that meet these
standards, to be used with the keyboard.
Cardmembers of Blue and Blue for Business can order the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard
at americanexpress.com and
americanexpress.com, or they can search for the words,
``Compaq'' or ``keyboard,'' on the site. The keyboard carries a one-year
warranty. Requirements include Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT along with 5MB of disk space,
8MB of RAM and a serial port connection. American Express will continue to
offer free its current peripheral smart card reader for those customers who choose to have
an additional hardware device. For individuals and small businesses that are not
customers of Blue from American Express, the Compaq Smart Card Keyboard is also
available for $77.00 at directplus.compaq.com. Once on the site, the
Compaq Smart Card Keyboard can be located through ``Options'' followed by ``Security
Devices'' or ``Input Devices.''
About American Express
American Express is committed to making e-commerce safe and easy for customers, and is
developing innovative solutions that safeguard customers online. The
company recently announced Private Paymentssm, a new way to pay online using a
random, unique number for each online purchase. In addition, Blue from American
Express was the first wide-scale roll-out of a smart card in the U.S. American Express
Company (http://www.americanexpress.com) is a diversified worldwide travel,
financial and network services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit
cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products,
insurance and international banking.
About Compaq Computer Corporation
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the largest supplier of
computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and
markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise
computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and
communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs.
Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses,
through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to
businesses and consumers through Compaq's e-commerce Web site at
compaq.com. Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers
from
the business, home, government, and education sectors. Customer support and information
about Compaq and its products and services are available at
www.compaq.com.
Compaq is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned
herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
companies. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current
expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: delays in the
implementation of changes in delivery models, increased competitive environment
and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, component shortages, slow
acceptance for new form factors, employee retention, disruptions related to
restructuring actions, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems
implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment
volatility, and emerging market political or economic instability. Further information on the
factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on
form 10-K and the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Further information
on factors that could affect American Express' financial results is included in American
Express Company's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including
the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
SOURCE: American Express and Compaq Computer Corporation |
