Infineon Adds Security and Convenience to SIM Cards for NFC Applications
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Paris, France and Neubiberg, Germany - November 13, 2007 - Today at the Cartes Trade Show in Paris, Infineon Technologies AG (FSE/NYSE: IFX) announced a 32-bit high-security flash microcontroller designed to bring a significant layer of security and convenience to mobile applications based on NFC (Near Field Communication). In addition to its extensive hardware security capability, the new NFC-enabled SIM card microcontroller combines a Single Wire Protocol (SWP) interface with contactless Mifare® technology. The security microcontroller enables new services on mobile devices, such as ticketing, secure banking and loyalty programs. Users of NFC-enabled mobile phones, where a SIM card holding this chip is integrated, will be able to make payments or access public transportation by holding the mobile phone in front of a contactless terminal.
"With its vast expertise in SIM cards and payment applications, Infineon is among the few semiconductor suppliers offering chips that combine Mifare capability with SWP and security in silicon. Together with fast execution of transactions, NFC may change the way we use our mobile phones," said Dr. Helmut Gassel, vice president and general manager, Chip Card and Security ICs, Infineon Technologies. "With our new microcontroller, mobile phones will offer NFC functionality that is secure, convenient and efficient."
Infineon's NFC-enabled microcontroller allows highly secure NFC operations
The new SLE 88CNFX6600P NFC-enabled SIM card chip is a member of the SLE 88 family of 32-bit security microcontrollers. The device features the Infineon integral security concept that provides hardware firewalls to secure the coexistence of multiple applications, such as banking and java applications of different service providers that can be downloaded to a mobile device. The microcontroller offers secure non-volatile memory and combines the flexibility and convenience of flash-like memory with the advantage of the EEPROM, which features granularity, very fast programming times and at least 500,000 program cycles. The SLE 88 family is widely used in the high-end SIM card market. The family has achieved the Common Criteria standard at EAL 5+ "high" based on the BSI-PP0002 Protection Profile. This is the highest security level achieved for smart card security microcontrollers, and is still unrivalled for flash-based chips.
Availability
Samples of the new NFC chips are expected to be available in Q2 2008 with production quantities in mid-2008.
NFC is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that evolved from a combination of existing contactless identification and interconnection technologies. It operates at 13.56 MHz, with data transfer rates of up to 848 kilobits/second. The Single Wire Protocol (SWP) is a specification for a one-wire connection between the SIM card and the mobile phone's NFC modem. With the recent final standardization of the Universal Serial Bus high-speed interface for smart cards, the industry decided to focus on the SWP interface to connect the SIM card to the NFC module.
Infineon at Cartes Trade Show
During the three-day Cartes Trade Show (November 13-15, 2007), Infineon is demonstrating its comprehensive chip card IC portfolio at Booth #4J002 in Hall 4. For more information on the company's show highlights at Cartes, visit www.infineon.com/cartes_2007
Further information
Further information on NFC is available from the Near Field Communication Forum at www.nfc-forum.org. Further information on Infineon's product portfolio for chip card applications is available at www.infineon.com/security
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG, Munich, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society including energy efficiency, mobility and security. In fiscal year 2006 (ending September), the company achieved sales of Euro 7.9 billion (including Qimonda sales of Euro 3.8 billion) with approximately 42,000 employees worldwide (including approximately 12,000 Qimonda employees). With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the US from San Jose, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX).
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