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To: Gutterball who wrote (171)	7/29/1998 1:04:00 PM
From: Gutterball	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 468

Major Smart Card Players Create Proton World International; Global Investors Give Boost to Common Smart Card and Electronic Purse Standards BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- American Express, Banksys, ERG and Visa International today announced they have become shareholders in the newly created Proton World International (PWI), a company formed by the spin-off of Proton smart card technology assets developed by Banksys. The new company will continue the development and licensing of Proton smart card applications. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Proton World International is a leading international smart card technology provider. Its electronic purse application is one of the most broadly implemented and most actively used, with 30 million Proton electronic purse smart cards accepted in 200,000 terminals in fifteen countries. Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland have national roll-outs of Proton electronic purse cards. In Belgium alone, more than 2.3 million transactions are performed each month using Proton-based cards. PWI will support a variety of technologies and specifications to deliver open, interoperable and global smart card solutions. The new company will support and implement the Common Electronic Purse Specifications (CEPS), currently being defined by a working group of electronic purse operators, to ensure interoperability of electronic purse schemes worldwide. With the support of PWI and other key electronic purse systems providers, approximately 90 percent of electronic purse smart cards are expected to conform to the specifications and be interoperable in the near future. The new company also will support Java as an application programming interface and it plans to use the Visa Open Platform as well as other specifications for smart card development. Armand Linkens, Managing Director of PWI, said: ''The worldwide marketplace recognizes Proton as a leading smart card technology that has been implemented in national roll-outs and offers a complete turnkey solution and state-of-the-art, end-to-end security. The creation of PWI represents a major step forward for the further development of Proton as a global and interoperable smart card solution.'' ''American Express is committed to helping lead the industry to achieve smart card interoperability, and we are working with a variety of technologies on a non-exclusive basis in this effort,'' said Peter Godfrey, President, American Express Europe. ''For example, we are licensees of both Proton and the Multos smart card operating system specification. We will be working to implement Proton on Multos to further the goal of interoperability. With the formation of PWI, and its support of CEPS as well as of Java as an application programming interface, we strengthen our leadership role in helping to make global smart card interoperability a reality.'' Herman Agneessens, Chairman of the Banksys Board, said: ''The Belgian banks are very proud that the technology developed by Banksys has been recognised on a global basis. I welcome the international shareholders who join PWI alongside Banksys. The success of Proton in Belgium and other countries demonstrates that it serves the needs of the customers by its convenience and reliability.'' ''The establishment of PWI is a watershed for the global smart card industry,'' said Colin Simpson, Managing Director of ERG Card Systems Ltd. ''ERG committed to the concept of Proton World International from the outset. The calibre of the shareholders of PWI, all of whom have a vision of global interoperability for smart cards, will ensure that our customers worldwide have access to the 'VHS' of smart card technology.'' Hans van der Velde, President, Visa European Union, said: ''Our announcement today solidifies support for the Common Electronic Purse Specification, and we are delighted that PWI, American Express, Banksys and ERG will be instrumental in its on-going development, implementation and maintenance. This specification will bring interoperability and will protect the investments and interests of our members around the world. It is a standard now supported by all those who believe in open, non-proprietary systems. In short, we can look forward with confidence to the continuing growth of the electronic purse and, with that, the introduction of true multi-function smart cards.'' Proton applications available today include an electronic purse for making low-value payments at locations such as shops, vending machines, and pay phones; electronic commerce functions; and security control. PWI will continue the development and implementation of these and other Proton applications, including putting both contact and contactless applications on a single card for use on public transport systems. In addition, Proton will support the euro. Cardholders with Proton-based cards will be able to make purchases denominated in euros without having their cards re-issued. PWI's support of the CEPS also will allow these cardholders to make cross-border purchases denominated in euros. biz.yahoo.com