ARM (LSE:ARM)(Nasdaq:ARMHY), the industry's leading provider of 16/32-bit embedded RISC microprocessor solutions, and Samsung Electronics Co announced today at Cartes 2000, the immediate availability of a new component for high-performance SIM smart cards that integrates an ARM7(TM) family 32-bit RISC processor with Samsung secure IC technology. Incard SpA announced the availability of the JavaCard(R) 2.1.1 SIM mask.
Based on industry-proven ARM Powered(TM) technology, Mokard from Incard is the world's first 32-bit RISC SIM card going into high-volume production. Shipments of the component have already commenced. The ARM Powered device is an ideal solution for supporting open software environments and advanced on-card operating systems such as Sun's JavaCard(R) and Microsoft's Smart Card for Windows(R). Featuring 32k of E2PROM, 64k of ROM and 4k RAM, Mokard relies on an ARM(R) core-based Samsung S3C9A9 chip to meet GSM SIM specifications and provide support for the JavaCard 2.1.1 specification.
The evolution of the card market will demand greater processing power and memory capacity to allow implementation of advanced security features and support complex card operating systems. Mokard is the first high-volume production smart card containing an ARM core and lays the foundation for the industry-standard chip architecture for next generation smart cards, empowering card issuers and users across the globe with a range of new options and greater flexibility.
"ARM started its smart card program in 1996 in a European Collaborative R & D program called Cascade, and recently opened an e-Commerce design center in Sophia Antipolis, through the purchase of EuroMIPS to accelerate development," said Robin Saxby, chairman and CEO for ARM. "ARM also announced today details of its aggressive road map for the evolution of smart card products, and is working closely with industry-leaders including Incard and Samsung, to drive momentum of the ARM architecture into next-generation smart card solutions."
"By working with companies like ARM and Samsung, Incard has defined an advanced card-controller architecture which represents an important innovation today," said S. Pinto, CEO for Incard. "Incard has already implemented and delivered to selected customers the world's first JavaCard(R) 2.1 mask integrating latest generation GSM features. Mobile telecom operators will be able to take immediate advantage of the most recent GSM standard and can implement advanced JavaCard applications on our Mokard(R). Incard is the first card manufacturer to offer a full 32-bit smart card solution, which is even portable on different chips."
"We have capitalized on our long-standing relationship with ARM," said Ettore Gaiani, vice president of Samsung Semiconductor Europe. "Our experience in providing ARM core-based components, coupled with our superior memory technology, has allowed us to implement this complex component, while complying with the card market's requirements for security features, low power consumption, and real estate."
The Mokard card and the S3C9A9 chip are available for volume shipment immediately and can be ordered direct from Incard and Samsung respectively.
For more information on Samsung's S3C9A9, please visit www.samsungsemi.de, or e-mail ask-slsi@sseg.de. For more information on Incard's Mokard 32-bit SIM application smart card, please visit Incard at CARTES 2000, www.incard.com. For more information on ARM technology for smart card solutions, please visit ARM at stand 159, Curie Hall, or Web site www.arm.com.
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