Eric, that is the company, but their name is now ATMI
from p 11 of their 10k
Smart Card Device Venture. ATMI, through its Emosyn division, is currently
developing and commercializing integrated circuits for use in smart cards. Smart
cards are credit card-like devices that operate through a chip on the card as
opposed to the more familiar magnetic strip. The smart card is read through
insertion into a "reader" which clamps down on the device and simultaneously
powers it up and performs a multitude of operations. The smart card market is
growing rapidly, especially in Europe, in the mobile phone, health care and
transportation industries. Long term, the Company expects that smart cards will
see wide use in secure internet transactions.
ATMI entered this market to leverage certain proprietary advanced non-
volatile materials technology. To facilitate the development of these integrated
circuits, ATMI entered into a strategic alliance with a subsidiary of SMH
Swatch, the largest watch maker in Switzerland, to design, develop, manufacture
and distribute these products. In November 1998, ATMI also entered into a
strategic alliance with Xicor, Inc. which gives the Company the right to become
Xicor's exclusive sales channel for Xicor integrated circuit products targeting
smart card applications. ATMI also holds an option to purchase this product line
beginning in 2001.
ATMI's first smart card products are targeted at the fast-growing markets
for wireless telecommunication subscriber identification module (SIM) cards and
micro-controller-based smart card IC's. The combination of ATMI's expertise in
non-volatile memory technology with SMH Swatch's expertise in ultra-low power
and radio frequency technology has enabled the launch of a device called
"Theseus" which provides high density, speed, power and memory partitioning. The
Company's approach to memory technology design provides a smart card solution
that significantly reduces the major problem of time-to-market for the card
manufacturers with no increase in device size. ATMI shipped its first commercial
product in 1999 and has seen increasing acceptance of its IC products in the
market throughout 2000. At the end of the first quarter 2001, the strategic
alliance with SWATCH came to an end. Both parties have agreed to transition
market support of existing products and independently develop next generation
products and markets. |
