Maybe this applies to Racom and Ramtron???? reposter
**************************************************
First an insertion, though.
[For the non-techs like myself the "digital" [4/27} attachment to this
weeks Time has an easy to understand article about Smart
Cards. Funny, a year ago I thought Smart Card and Fram
were synonymous./Lou]
***********************************************
And Racom's. RFID is Racom tech isn't it.
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Wednesday April 29, 5:07 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Atmel Corporation
Atmel Introduces Low-Cost Secure Memory IC With Enhanced Security For Smart Cards
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML
- news) announced today a second-generation integrated circuit (IC) security device for use in high-volume, low-cost smart card applications. This introduction was made at CardTech/SecurTech in Washington, DC today.
The AT88SC1608 device provides a unique, patented mutual authentication scheme in addition to standard password
recognition. It was developed as a collaborative effort between Atmel and Elva, S.A. These capabilities provide an affordable,
high standard of security for issuers and users of smart cards. The reader and the card exchange an encrypted data stream,
preventing the possibility of fraudulent readers or card attack -- thus providing the highest level of privacy in a secure memory
device. This device will present a different authentication challenge and response each time the card is inserted into a reader.
''This second-generation chip provides a level of security for both the issuer and the card holder that formerly required an
expensive microcontroller on the card,'' explained Jean-Pierre Benhammou, Atmel's marketing director for secure memories.
''With the introduction of the AT88SC1608, security is now affordable so many more customers will be able to utilize it,''
Benhammou added.The first-generation secure memory devices could only provide PIN or password recognition. The problem with this form ofprotection was that the reader could be tapped into and the PIN would be available. This is similiar to the way a cellular telephone is cloned while in use.
The second-generation of protection, formerly only available with an expensive embedded microcontroller, provides mutual
authentication challenges.
''With this device, it is now practical and affordable for smart cards to be used for drivers licenses, medical records, various
forms of financial and loyalty cards as well as many forms of secure access where the card holder can not breach the security of the card and manipulate the data,'' Atmel's Benhammou concluded.
''The real security provided by the authentication protocol is well established in the secure transaction industry -- this is the first implementation in a secure memory application,'' said Cedric Colnot, President of Elva, S.A., of Paris, France. Colnot continued, ''Atmel is leading the way with this 2-way authentication scheme and this will be the gold standard for all secure memories of the future.''
The 16K AT88SC1608, now in volume production, offers eight 256-bit by 8-bit user zones. The IC uses a two-wire interface, and it operates from 2.7 volts to 5.5 volts. Pricing for the device in wafer form starts at $0.57 each in quantities of 100,000.
The device meets the specifications of the ISO 7816-3 Synchronous Protocol and has ISO Compliant Packaging. The
AT88SC1608 offers an endurance capability of 100,000 cycles with data retention of 100 years.
The AT88SC1608 is a specialized EEPROM memory and is the latest in a series of a comprehensive range of smart card
integrated circuits from Atmel. These include a family of secure memory chips, a range of contactless (RFID) devices, and
high-performance secure microcontrollers with crypto-coprocessors. Together these devices cover the entire spectrum of smart card applications from simple data storage to high-security financial transactions.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, with principal manufacturing facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Rousset, France, Atmel designs, develops, manufactures, and markets on a worldwide basis semiconductors including nonvolatile and embedded memory, logic, analog and microcontroller products as well as system-level integration (SLI) solutions.
Atmel product and financial information can be retrieved from its Fax-on-Demand service. In North America call
800-292-8635. Internationally from a fax phone, dial 408-441-0732.
Requests may be sent via e-mail to
literature@atmel.com or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com.
NOTE: Terms and product names contained within are trademarks of Atmel
Corporation. Patents pending, under license of
Elva, S.A.
SOURCE: Atmel Corporation
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Atmel Corp (Nasdaq:ATML - news)
Related News Categories: computers, semiconductors
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