Exciting technology innovation from Atmel and IBM just announced.
>HID, IBM AND ATMEL ANNOUNCE BREAKTHROUGH IN PROTECTION OF CORPORATE
COMPUTERS
>
>LAS VEGAS, Nev. - March 24, 1998 - Demonstrating their commitment to
helping
>computer customers better protect their assets from theft, HID, IBM*,
and >Atmel today announced Asset ID* - an exciting new asset
protection technology
>that will help customers prevent the unauthorized movement of PCs
from their
>enterprise.
> Asset ID is hardware and software technology that permits
communication >between Asset ID-enabled PCs and access control systems
using radio frequency
>identification technology. Access control systems can link
information about
>the PC to a particular employee and automatically determine if that
individual
>is authorized to remove the PC from the premises. If removal is not
>authorized, a notification will be sent to security personnel and
appropriate
>action can be taken. Since the Asset ID tag in the PC requires no
battery >power to operate, asset protection can occur even with the PC
powered off. > IBM will ship Asset ID-enabled commercial PCs beginning
in the second quarter
>of 1998. Asset ID will also be featured in the newest IBM
IntelliStation* >Windows** NT-based professional workstation, also
scheduled for release in the
>second quarter of 1998. In addition, IBM intends to have Asset
ID-enabled >ThinkPad* notebook computers available in the second half
of 1998.
> Mobile computing is enabling increased productivity in many types of
work >environments, yet the need for protecting and managing those
assets presents
>an even greater challenge than the one raised in managing traditional
desk- >bound systems. Asset ID will enable customers to track and
protect mobile >systems, ensuring that the assets are in the hands of
those responsible for >their use.
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>ASSET ID
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> Asset ID is the result of a joint development effort between HID,
IBM, and >Atmel. It is enabled through the integration of radio
frequency >identification technology with an Atmel EEPROM on the PC
system board. The >three companies announced Asset ID during a press
conference at the >International Security Conference (ISC) West Show,
held March 24-26, 1998 in
>Las Vegas, Nevada.
> "Asset ID provides a standard that allows IBM and others to tag
corporate >assets at a fraction of the price of other solutions,"
affirmed Don Small, HID
>vice president of marketing and business development. "We can now
track what
>assets people are carrying with them. Having IBM lead the way sets
the >standard for corporate asset management."
> "Industry analysts have predicted that losses arising from computer
theft >will reach approximately $8 billion in 1998, adding up to $120
onto the cost
>of an average commercial PC," explained Rod Adkins, general manager,
IBM >Desktop Systems. "With Asset ID, we are delivering an answer to
computer >theft. It's another example of how IBM is leading its
competitors in bringing
>systems management and asset protection value to our customers."
> "Our background in both wireless technology and nonvolatile memory
>facilitated the relationship with HID and IBM," related Kerry
Maletsky, >product manager, Atmel. "Asset ID will become the gold
standard for future >equipment developers around the world for
integrated asset identification." > The three companies intend to
drive the Asset ID technology as the global >standard for asset
tracking. HID, IBM and Atmel have taken steps to ensure >customers
have a complete solution for their asset protection needs, including
>support for older PCs and other corporate assets. The new Atmel
circuit is >not limited to computer equipment. It can facilitate the
identification and
>management of other corporate assets such as telecommunications
devices, >printers, fax machines as well as test and instrumentation
equipment.
> At the ISC Show, HID introduced the ProxTrak*** Asset Management Tag
which >can be attached externally to PCs and other corporate assets.
The ProxTrak >Asset Management Tag is fully compatible with the
integrated Asset ID tags. >Additionally, HID introduced the ProxTrak
Reader which is compatible with the
>integrated Asset ID tag, ProxTrak Asset Management Tag, and HID
proximity >cards.
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>ASSET ID
>Page 3
>
>
> Customers can obtain Asset ID compatible access control systems by
contacting
>their local access control equipment provider, including LENEL
Systems >International, Inc., Mosler Inc., Northern Computers Inc.,
Pinkerton Systems
>Integration, Proprietary Controls Systems Corp., Security
Technologies Group
>and Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, all of whom were represented
at the
>press conference by top management.
>HID provides innovative radio frequency and Wiegand solutions for
automated >identification and remote transfer of data in access
control and asset >management applications. Additional information is
available at (800) >237-PROX or www.prox.com.
>IBM, the world's largest computer manufacturer, is also the world's
largest >software company and the world's largest provider of
information technology >services. Additional information is available
at www.ibm.com/pc.
>Atmel designs, manufactures and markets a broad line of complex
integrated >circuits. In addition to several families of nonvolatile
programmable >memories, Atmel manufactures programmable logic devices,
application-specific
>devices, microcontrollers and various mixed signal circuits.
Additional >information is available at www.atmel.com.
>
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>* trademark or registered trademark of IBM Corporation
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