Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer Outlines Role for Smart Cards In Microsoft
"We believe the demand for smart cards is
just emerging and will grow exponentially."
In Microsoft .NET Generation Software
General Services Administration Looks to Smart Card Industry Partners
To Supply Products and Services for Broad Smart Card Deployment
REDMOND, Wash., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at the second annual Smart
Card Business Development Conference, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) President
and CEO Steve Ballmer addressed more than 400 smart card industry
representatives, outlining the role that smart cards can play in Microsoft's
.NET Platform.
"As we move to a Web-based lifestyle, authentication and security become
critical," Ballmer said. "Smart Cards are an enabling technology in the
Microsoft(R) .NET vision, providing an affordable and effective way to
increase the security of computing. We believe the demand for smart cards is
just emerging and will grow exponentially."
The General Services Administration (GSA) is an example of a
forward-looking organization working to deploy smart cards to the federal
government. GSA recently awarded a 10-year contract estimated at $1.5 billion
to five industry partners: 3GI, Electronic Data Systems Corp.,
KPMG Consulting, PRC Inc. and Logicon Inc. Microsoft is a subcontractor to
each of these prime awardees. GSA's contracts are designed to support the
requirements of any federal agency and will provide interoperable, multi-
application smart cards that will set the standard for smart card technology
and enable government and industry to grow with electronic commerce. The
providers will produce microchip-equipped cards capable of supporting multiple
applications, such as granting access to computer networks and buildings. The
GSA's contract is the largest commitment to Smart Card technology in the
United States to date.
"We're committed to the broad-scale government deployment of smart cards,
which will enhance the efficiency of business processes and increase security
through managed authentication for access to government buildings and
networks," said Mickey Femino, director of the Office of Smart Card
Initiatives for the GSA. "We're excited to work with the five prime
contractors and their subcontractors to develop smart card solutions that are
reliable, interoperable and cost-effective."
Attendees at the conference were provided with a personalized smart card,
which not only serves as an identification badge and automatically registers
them, but also can be used as a card reader throughout the conference center,
allowing them access to conference information and area attractions and giving
them the opportunity to use the technology firsthand.
Microsoft also announced today the release to manufacturing of the
Windows(R) for Smart Card Toolkit 1.1 with support for Global Systems for
Mobile Communications (GSM) capabilities. The new toolkit allows GSM operators
and mobile equipment manufacturers to use familiar Microsoft Windows operating
system-based tools to create customizable and enhanced smart card solutions,
including mobile commerce solutions, for their mobile phone customers. The
Windows for Smart Card Toolkit 1.1 will soon be available free of charge from
the Microsoft smart card Web site at
microsoft.com .
Windows for Smart Cards provides a standard-based platform that enables
secure storage for smart cards used for a variety of purposes, such as secure
network authentication, secure corporate transactions, electronic cash and
customer loyalty programs. Windows for Smart Cards looks and can act like a
credit card, but has built-in intelligence and security so that even a single
card can be programmed for a wide variety of uses.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
NOTE: Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional informationon
Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page
athttp://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate
informationpages./
/CONTACT: Suzanne Lamberton, or suzannel@wagged.com, or Crystal Duncan,or
crystald@wagged.com, or Rapid Response Team, or rrt@wagged.com, all ofWaggener
Edstrom, 503-443-7000, for Microsoft Corp./
/Web site: microsoft.com
Jun-29-2000 11:15 GMT
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