Certification Authority Platform Providers Unite With Sonera SmartTrust To Push Wireless e-Commerce and Security Based on Public Key Infrastructure
CA-platform Providers Offer Secure Wireless Solutions For Launching New Services
HELSINKI, Finland, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonera SmartTrust Ltd., the leading provider of security solutions for wireless e-commerce based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), today announced that Certification Authority (CA) platform providers Baltimore Technologies (Nasdaq: BALT - news; The London Stock Exchange: BLM), Entrust Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ENTU - news), CyberTrust, a GTE company, iD2 Technologies and VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN - news), will collaborate with Sonera SmartTrust in developing and implementing flexible and interoperable systems for secure wireless e-commerce using Sonera SmartTrust technology and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in current and next generation mobile phones and networks. The companies are aiming to build a global interoperable wireless PKI-based infrastructure.
''CA-platform providers see clear benefits in offering solutions for value- added services such as secure banking, stock trading and other personalized services which require a high level of security and privacy. The new wireless e-commerce business model, together with technology developed by Sonera SmartTrust and solutions from CA-platform providers, will enable legally binding, completely private, encrypted and secure transactions between all parties. The consumers' trust in new wireless e-commerce services will be worth billions of dollars to service providers,'' stated Mr. Harri Vatanen, CEO and President of Sonera SmartTrust Ltd.
These companies are striving to deliver trusted e-commerce transactions to the exploding wireless Internet appliance market. Among these Internet appliances, the mobile phone has the potential to become the most convenient consumer and e-commerce transaction vehicle to next generation e-commerce networks. Sonera SmartTrust in collaboration with Baltimore Technologies, Entrust Technologies, CyberTrust, iD2 and VeriSign, is working to introduce products and services that enable trusted e-commerce Internet transactions over the air between mobile phones and e-commerce sites.
''The importance of security and interoperability between vendor solutions is an integral enabler of the mobile commerce revolution. The Baltimore Telepathy product range is a comprehensive suite of solutions for wireless e- security. Baltimore welcomes working with Sonera SmartTrust to ensure interoperability of their wireless digital signature solutions with the Baltimore Telepathy security architecture to drive the adoption of m- commerce,'' commented John Fallon, Director of Technical Market Development at Baltimore Technologies.
By supporting PKI-based wireless security solutions, the leading CA- platform providers will be able to strengthen their position in the e-commerce market. With reliable infrastructure service providers such as mobile operators, financial institutions and trade will be able to get higher margins for value-added services, decrease churn rate because they provide higher customer satisfaction, and attract new customers.
''We are pleased to be working with Sonera SmartTrust towards our shared vision to extend trust to all wireless e-business environments as we deliver comprehensive, end to end solutions for the wired and wireless world - linking the entire supply chain into a common architecture through Entrust products and services,'' said Robert Heard, senior vice-president, marketing and business development, Entrust Technologies Inc.
An open security infrastructure like PKI offers service providers with a generic platform to build a wide range of services on in a tight schedule. By moving ahead now, service providers are clearly able to launch new services, differentiate their offer, increase their visibility, and get a chance to attract the best customers and partners.
''Until now, wireless technology has focused on presenting information - not securing it,'' said Peter J. Hussey, president of CyberTrust. ''By applying CyberTrust's expertise designing secure extranets to mobile telecommunications technology such as that developed by Sonera SmartTrust, we have raised the convenience and accessibility of business-to-business, and business-to- consumer transactions to a whole new level.''
CA-platform providers are welcoming all participants to accelerate the wireless global e-commerce into full speed. The fastest way to do business and to reach high security level with bulletproof authentication is to do it with GSM phones and SIM cards. The infrastructure is already available and operational.
''We are delighted to be part of this milestone agreement,'' says Bjorn Gustavsson, CEO, iD2 Technologies. ''The market for wireless e-commerce is exploding and the need to provide a secure and trustworthy framework, built around the use of smart cards and digital identities, is paramount to its success. Through our leadership in smart card-based PKI solutions and with the support of a strong ownership structure, including Ericsson and Cisco, iD2 is well positioned to secure any number of fixed and wireless e-commerce applications. Together with Sonera SmartTrust we will be able to enhance the integrity of transactions in a wireless networking environment, enabling the secure use of online services for mobile users using devices such as PCs, set- top boxes, mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)''
Wireless e-commerce allows people to exchange information or conduct transactions by using a wide variety of handheld devices. These devices represent a new business platform for e-commerce. By 2003, there will be over 800 million Web-enabled mobile phones in use worldwide, and by 2004 there will be more handsets than televisions. To allay fears about the security in mobile commerce, Sonera SmartTrust has developed a framework that provides a highly secure environment for financial transactions and information exchange. SmartTrust's solution is based on PKI, certificates, digital signatures and 1024 bit RSA algorithm for encryption.
''As online banks, brokerages, media companies and telecommunications providers look to deploy the next generation of e-commerce applications over wireless networks, they must deliver at least the same levels of trust and security as they currently do over the wired Internet,'' said Stratton Sclavos, president and CEO of VeriSign. ''We look forward to working with Sonera SmartTrust as we continue to develop the technologies and services that will support trust-based relationships in a wireless environment.''
Leading CA-platform providers and GSM operators now endorse PKI-based wireless e-commerce. This creates a whole new technology infrastructure, which enables service providers to adopt a new, transaction-based business model, where consumers benefit from the services independently of time or place. Reduction in transaction costs, and a variety of new consumer and business oriented services will drive PKI, digital signatures and strong encryption as the global standard of wireless e-commerce. In addition to this, a group of major financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Barclays Bank, Chase Manhattan, Bank of America, NatWest Group, CIBC, Sanwa Bank, Hypo Vereinsbank, Bankers Trust, Industrial Bank of Japan and ABN Amro has strongly committed to supporting PKI in conducting global electronic commerce. These financial institutions have formed a company called Identrus LLC #reply-12560328. The mission of Identrus is to facilitate the growth of business-to-business e-commerce by driving PKI for global standard.
Sonera SmartTrust was the first to build an electronic banking system and on February 1999 it announced the first secure digital signature technology for wireless networks based on the SIM card. SmartTrust's interoperable Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, 1024 bit RSA algorithm for encryption and digital signature solution enables users to conduct their business securely via mobile communication networks.
The Sonera SmartTrust innovation includes an advanced, patented technology, which uses mobile communication media to digitally sign transactions, contracts and messages. This enables the service provider to identify the customer accurately and encrypt the content of messages. The technology is compatible with Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), the current GSM standard and the future generations of mobile communication networks. The solution is also independent of operators, SIM card and telephone manufacturers.
Subject to separate agreements the CA-platform providers are Radicchio, a recently launched global industry initiative to promote the use of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) as the security platform for electronic transactions over mobile networks. Additional information on Radicchio can be found at radicchio.org.
About Sonera SmartTrust
Sonera SmartTrust Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonera, is a global leader in wireless e-commerce services and solutions based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). More information on Sonera SmartTrust to be found at smarttrust.com.
About Sonera
Sonera (Nasdaq: SNRA - news) is an international forerunner in mobile, data and media communications, with subsidiaries and associated companies in 14 countries. Sonera is listed both on Helsinki Exchanges (SRA) and on NASDAQ (SNRA). Sonera's vision is to become one of the world's leading mobile-based communications operators providing mobile communications services to which a large selection of content and transaction services are connected. In 1998, Sonera's revenues amounted to USD 1.9 billion and the profit before extraordinary items and taxes was USD 404 million. Information about Sonera can be found on the Internet at sonera.com.
About Baltimore Technologies
Baltimore Technologies develops and markets security products and services to enable companies to develop trusted, secure systems for e-business, the Internet and mobile commerce. Its products include a wide range of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) systems, wireless e-security solutions, cryptographic toolkits, security applications and hardware cryptographic devices. Baltimore's global professional services organization offers a wide variety of consulting, training and deployment support to its customers worldwide. Baltimore Technologies markets and sells its solutions worldwide directly and through the TrustedWorld* channel program. TrustedWorld includes many of the world's leading technology companies and a wide variety of global, regional and local business alliance partners.
Baltimore Technologies employs over 450 people worldwide and operates from over 20 cities with headquarters in Dublin, Ireland; London, UK; Boston, USA and Sydney, Australia. Baltimore Technologies plc is a public company with dual listings on NASDAQ (BALT) and the London Stock Exchange (BLM). Intel Corporation is a minority shareholder in the Company. Baltimore Technologies made e-commerce history in 1998 when President Clinton and Ireland's Prime Minister Ahern digitally signed an inter-governmental communique using security technology provided by Baltimore. For further information and press releases on Baltimore Technologies, please visit baltimore.com.
About Entrust Technologies Inc.
Entrust Technologies Inc. is a global leader in providing products and services that allow e-businesses to manage trusted, secure electronic transactions and communications over today's advanced networks, including the Internet, extranets and intranets. Since 1994, Entrust Technologies has been providing award-winning solutions to global enterprises, government entities, small to mid-sized businesses and individuals. Over four million Entrust Technologies users have been licensed with digital certificates to date. Entrust Technologies Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas with offices in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. For additional company information please visit entrust.com.
About GTE CyberTrust
GTE CyberTrust is the leading enabler of secure extranets and e-commerce for organizations extending their high-value relationships to the Web. The CyberTrust Secure Extranet Method establishes a first-in-market standard for certificate-enabled extranets that support privilege-based user access, data confidentiality, audit trails and digitally signed, binding transactions. Through our global network of partners, CyberTrust offers the industry's most complete suite of public key infrastructure-based products, outsourcing service and consulting. CyberTrust is a GTE company headquartered in Needham Heights, Mass., with offices in Washington, D.C., London, England and Sapporo, Japan. You can learn more about CyberTrust at cybertrust.com.
About iD2 Technologies Company
iD2 Technologies develops and sells a complete set of tools and software to enable secure transactions and identification over the Internet. The company, owned by Cisco, Ericsson, Reuters, SAP and Schroder Ventures, has clients in banking, telecommunications and postal services throughout Europe and Asia. iD2 Technologies has more than 10 years experience in developing IT solutions and products in combination with PKI and smart card technologies and recently won the Grand IT Prize for its certification management software, iD2 Certificate Manager. The company has offices in Stockholm, London and Munich. More information on iD2 Technologies can be found at id2tech.com.
About VeriSign Inc.
VeriSign Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN - news) is the leading provider of Internet trust services including authentication, validation and payment-needed by Web sites, enterprises and e-commerce service providers to conduct trusted and secure electronic commerce and communications over IP networks. VeriSign's trust services for Web sites, developers and individuals are available through verisign.com and through a growing number of ISPs and Web hosting companies. The company's digital certificate services for enterprises and electronic commerce service providers are available through regional account representatives, resellers, and global affiliates.
Ms. Sari Laitinen, Manager, PR of Sonera SmartTrust Ltd.,
+358-40-511 8108, mailto:sari.laitinen@sonera.fi
Ms. Carol Clavin, Marketing Communications Manager of Baltimore
Technologies , +353-1-605 4357, or fax, +353-1-605 4388,
mailto:cclavin@baltimore.com
Ms. Carrie Bendzsa, Media Relations of Entrust Technologies Inc.,
+01-613-247-3455, mailto:carrie.bendzsa@entrust.com
Mr. Michael Yaffe of CyberTrust, +1-781-455 4536,
mailto:michael.yaffe@cybertrust.gte.com
Mr. Rain Eriksoo, Director of Marketing of iD2 Technologies,
+46 8 775 52 92/52 00, mailto:rain.eriksoo@iD2tech.com
Mr. Jeff Wenker of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, +01-650-429-2768,
mailto:jeff_wenker@edelman.com , for VeriSign Inc.
Osku Lappalainen of Hill and Knowlton Finland, Italahdenkatu 18 A 00210
Helsinki FINLAND, +358-9-3486 1244, or mobile, +358-40-545 2239, or fax,
+358-9-3486 1311, mailto:osku.lappalainen@hillandknowlton.fi , for Sonera
SmartTrust
SOURCE: Sonera SmartTrust Ltd.
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