Thursday October 7, 8:27 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Microsoft Windows for Smart Cards Extends Support to GSM
Platform
Provides Programmable, Customisable Solutions for GSM Carriers
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1999--Microsoft Corp. today
announced expansion of its industry-endorsed Windows© for Smart
Cards platform to include support for the Global Systems for Mobile
Communications (GSM) platform. GSM operators and mobile
equipment manufacturers will soon have access to extensive
Windows-based tools, which will enable customisable and enhanced
services for their mobile phone customers. Microsoft will demonstrate
live phone calls on GSM cards using Microsoft© Windows for Smart
Cards with customised services for carriers such as e-mail, calendar,
stock quotes and other Internet applications at Telecom '99 in Geneva.
``The Windows for Smart Cards platform is an innovative,
customisable tool for GSM carriers that will enable them to add
personalisation and data-rich features to their services,' said Jonathan
Roberts, general manager of the Productivity Appliance Division at
Microsoft. ``With our platform, GSM carriers will not only be able to
choose from multiple smart card vendors for their solutions but they
will also be able to leverage the extensive developer community for
Windows to continue to drive innovation and enhanced services for
customers.'
``The development of Windows-powered Subscriber Identification
Module (SIM) cards has been performed in a very short period of time
thanks to SAGEM's expertise in GSM handsets and smart card
development and manufacturing in conjunction with its long-standing
cooperation with Microsoft in the GSM field,' said Philippe Cadoret,
director of Communications at SAGEM. ``SAGEM has now completed
its range of SIM cards and is offering its customers a SIM toolkit that
benefits from the open architecture of Windows for Smart Cards and
its unparalleled application development tools.'
``We welcome Microsoft's initiative to further endorse the role of
smart cards in wireless technology,' said Anders Ingestrom, CEO,
AU-System Mobile. ``This will take the industry one step closer to the
vision of the secure wireless Internet. AU-Systems supports all the
major smart card vendors' GSM implementations and will work
closely with Microsoft to include support for Windows Powered
Smart Card applications within our Wireless Application Delivery
Platform.'
``Aspects Software Ltd., a provider of tools and solutions for the
mobile-telephone industry and one of the most active companies within
the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI)
responsible for the SIM, is committed to supporting Windows for
Smart Cards,' said Neil Stewart, CEO of Aspects Software. ``We will
integrate Windows for Smart Cards into our products and consider it
an excellent platform to develop innovative products and services.'
Microsoft Windows for Smart Cards Solution
Microsoft Windows for Smart Cards is an 8-bit, multiapplication
operating system for smart cards. It is designed to be a low-cost,
easy-to-program platform that runs Visual Basic©-based applications
that meets the criterion mentioned earlier: extension of the PC
environment into smart card use. Windows for Smart Cards use the
same development tools that millions of independent software vendors
(ISVs) and in-house corporate developers use: the Microsoft Visual
C++© and Visual Basic development systems.
Availability
The Microsoft Windows Smart Card Toolkit is scheduled for release
later this year, and support for GSM is expected to be available in an
Option Pack early next year. More information is available at
microsoft.com.
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