Atmel Introduces High Security Smart Card IC for Low Density Banking and Government Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2002--Atmel®
Corporation (Nasdaq:ATML - news) announced today the introduction of its
AT05SC1604R Smart Card IC for production and general release. This 4K
EEPROM HC05 microcontroller having 16K ROM and 1K RAM, is targeted at
single application or multi-function applications requiring cost
effective small memory but high security, such as banking and
government applications. Examples include credit, debit, electronic
purse and personal identification cards.
Introduction coincides with the product being granted security
certification to ISO-15408, more commonly known as Common Criteria, to
EAL4 Augmented level in accordance with Protection Profile PP-9806.
The device has already achieved Level 3 Capability approval from
Visa earlier this year and has also received approval for an EMV
banking application in Europe.
Ian Duthie, Atmel's marketing manager for Secure ICs, commented
"The AT05SC1604R adds to Atmel's growing list of products certified
for high security applications by industry recognized third party
evaluators, strengthening Atmel's position as a leading vendor of
Smart Card ICs and high security products. The '1604R', employing the
cost effective HC05 core, provides a migratory path for older HC05
designs as well as offering new higher levels of security for new
applications at the low density levels."
"With more than a billion magnetic strip bank cards destined to
become smart cards over the next few years, Visa and MasterCard are
encouraging early roll-out plans for credit and debit card migration
to EMV smart cards," Ian Duthie went on to say. "Many banks are
looking to start with a low entry level product with a view to
migrating to more sophisticated and multi-application products on
second or third generation introductions. To meet this need, the banks
must have confidence that the hardware can support their security
concerns at whatever entry level they choose. Atmel smart card ICs
give them this confidence."
About Common Criteria Certification
The Common Criteria or ISO15408 standard was developed to
incorporate three similar but independently created Security
Evaluation Criteria known as ITSEC (Europe), the Orange Book (USA) and
CTCPEC (Canada). ISO15408 security evaluations are performed by
independent, accredited Evaluation Facilities licensed by an
appropriate Certification Body. In France, where the AT05SC1604R
evaluation was performed, the Certification Body is DCSSI (Direction
Centrale de la Securite des Systemes d'Information), a government
organization that reports to the National Defense General Secretary.
The evaluation was carried out by LETI, based in the Grenoble area, on
behalf of the DCSSI who awarded the certification.
About Visa Capability Approval
In granting a level of capability, Visa acknowledges that with
well written secure software, the combined silicon and software
embedded in a card, can provide an end product certifiable to Visa's
requirements. The silicon on its own is only one component of the
product which, if not protected by equally secure software, may result
in an end product not meeting the security level required for a given
application. Since it is a component only, not a product,
certification is not granted for Smart Card ICs but equally important
without achieving a capability approval level for silicon, card
providers cannot develop with confidence on a given silicon platform.
About Atmel
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose,
Calif., with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe.
Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic,
mixed-signal, non-volatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also
a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions
using CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.
Information
Atmel's AT05SC1604R product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/atmel/acrobat/1522s.pdf.
Requests may be sent via e-mail to smartcard@atmel.com or by
visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com.
Note to Editors: Atmel, the Atmel logo and combinations thereof
and others contained herein, are trademarks of Atmel Corporation.
Terms and product names in this document may be the trademarks of
others.
Contact:
Atmel
Ian Duthie, + 44 1355 803555
(Marketing Manager, Banking & Government Applications)
iduthie@atmel.com
Tamara Van der Pyl, + 33 4 42 53 60 52
(MarCom Manager SCICs)
tvanderpyl@atmel.fr
Veronique Sablereau, +33 1 30 60 70 68
(Corporate Communications Manager/Europe)
veronique.sablereau@atmel.com
Clive Over, 408/451-2855
(Director of Press Relations/USA and Asia)
cliveover@atmel.com
