David,
Here is a PR in which you get a mention.
Subj: 3GI Releases Comprehensive Smart Card Security Product
Date: 8/25/99 2:28:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: AOL News
3GI Releases Comprehensive Smart Card Security Product
SPRINGFIELD, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 25, 1999--
Passage Desktop 2.0 Gains Strong Industry Support
3-G International, Inc. (3GI) announces the availability of Passage Desktop version 2.0, a multiple application smart card solution available to corporations and other organizations that wish to strengthen PC and network security.
Passage Desktop leverages smart card and public key technology to control individual access to PCs and networks, protect sensitive computer files and data, and secure e-mail and Web transactions. The product includes six applications based on leading-edge smart card and biometrics technology.
3GI is working with a wide network of technology and market partners to advance the product:
IBM
"3GI's new Passage Desktop product offers customers a robust and easy to use desktop security suite. IBM supports 3GI's use of open industry standards such as Java Card and PKCS No.11. This product provides a key component to organizations wishing to implement PKI solutions today," says Steven Houghtalen, Director, Pervasive Computing Solutions for IBM.
MasterCard
"MasterCard's strategy is to align with solution providers that develop smart card-based tools and solutions that meet the needs of our member financial institutions and their customers," said Mike Tempora, vice president of North American smart card management, MasterCard International. "3GI's Passage Desktop is a great example of a MULTOS-compatible security solution on a smart card platform."
Microsoft
"3GI's Passage Desktop product is an excellent example of the maturity of smart card industry standards such as PC/SC," said Mike Dusche, Director of Marketing for Smart Card for Windows at Microsoft Corporation. "Through full PC/SC compliance, 3GI has enabled Passage Desktop to support multiple types of smart card readers and biometrics peripherals, providing multiple hardware options for customers and users. 3GI's use of the Microsoft Crypto API and compatibility with Smart Card for Windows will ensure that Passage Desktop integrates seamlessly with a variety of Microsoft software products."
NEC
"By integrating biometrics, public key, and smart card technology, 3GI's Passage Desktop product offers a very flexible and convenient network and PC security solution," commented Chip Hill, Director, Professional Services, NEC.
Sun Microsystems
"Sun Microsystems applauds 3GI's full support of the Java Card 2.1 standard in its Passage Desktop Solution," said Peter Cattaneo, Java Card Program Manager, Consumer and Embedded Business Development at Sun Microsystems. "Java Card technology is the ideal platform for supporting rich multifunction solutions like Passage Desktop."
Visa
"We are pleased to see the development of 3GI's Passage Desktop 2.0, which will run on the Open Platform and with Java Card-based operating systems and Microsoft's Smart Card For Windows. We believe that it will be extremely valuable to financial institutions interested in providing corporate campus solutions. The developer community is taking a positive step in helping banks get to market quickly," said Diana Knox, Senior Vice President with the Chip Products Group at Visa.
Passage Desktop is a flexible, open architecture smart card solution. The product works seamlessly with standard web browser and e-mail packages from Microsoft and Netscape, uses standard x.509 digital certificates from major certificate authorities such as Verisign, Entrust, and GTE Cybertrust, and supports standard encryption and network security protocols including SSL3 and SMIME.
Passage Desktop also supports a variety of public key smart cards including those of Gemplus, Schlumberger, and Sun Microsystems' Java Card technology. Passage Desktop also supports all Microsoft PC/SC-compliant card readers including Bull, Gemplus, SCM Microsystems, and Schlumberger, and biometric readers from several industry leading biometrics technology firms including American Biometrics, Identicator, and Veridicom. 3GI also designed the product to support Microsoft Corporation's Smart Card for Windows, MasterCard's MULTOS smart card Operating System, and the Open Platform developed by Visa.
Passage Desktop also provides a direct migration path to 3GI's comprehensive corporate and government campus solutions, such as Passage Enterprise or Passage Government, allowing the smart card to be used for a wide variety of additional functions including employee identification, physical access, electronic commerce, and property management.
To see a demonstration of Passage Desktop applications or for further information, visit 3GI's web site at htp://www.3gi.com.
ABOUT PASSAGE DESKTOP APPLICATIONS
--Smart Card PC Logon - Controls access to Windows TM 95/98/NT workstations and network logon through the smart card. The application supports variable settings for cardholder authentication, biometric authentication, and logon features.
--Secure Web Access - Protects access to sensitive data published as Web documents on an enterprise intranet/extranet. A digital certificate and the user's public/private key pair stored on the card enables the user to complete public key mutual authentication with the enterprise web server and achieve access to privileged data.
--Secure E-mail - Allows users to ensure the integrity of e-mail and prevent e-mail fraud. The storage of a digital certificate and key pair on the card allows users to digitally sign and/or encrypt data sent via electronic mail. This operation works with popular e-mail applications such as MS Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, and Lotus cc mail.
-- Secure Screen Saver - Provides an added layer of security at the desktop level. The application enables users to protect their workstations without having to log off, requiring cardholder authentication when workstations are left idle or when the card is removed.
--Local File Encryption - Enables users to prevent unauthorized access to confidential electronic documents and secure them for electronic transmission through smart card-based file encryption and a digital certificate.
--Desktop Control Center - This administrative feature allows users with administrative privileges to easily manage the configuration of the Passage applications, adjust card access privileges, and manage their digital certificates.
ABOUT 3GI
3-G International, Inc. is the leading U.S. smart card solutions company, and has provided multiple application smart card technology to industry and government since 1991. 3GI provides a wide range of smart card applications and solutions including financial, internet security, electronic payments, healthcare, and card system management. Based in Springfield, Virginia 3GI has branch offices in Williamsburg, Honolulu, San Francisco, Raleigh, Edinburgh, and Shenzhen, China. 3GI was recently recognized as one of the fastest growing privately-held U.S. companies in the Inc. 500 survey, and was the recipient of the 1999 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. 3GI can be found on the World Wide Web at 3gi.com .
CONTACT:
3GI, Springfield
Mike Orr, 703/922-4600
Morr@3gi.com
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