Orange NFC Enabled SIM Card

Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008

Smart card expert Sagem Orga announced the availability of an NFC Single Wire Protocol enabled SIM card, developed in close co-operation with Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. This card has been fully customized for Orange specific needs.

Sagem Orga and Orange cooperated closely in a 15-month project to create a solution that will enable Orange customers to use contactless technology. The Single Wire Protocol is a new interface that defines the communication of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) with a Near Field Communication chip in the handset.

The card can be used for any application in transport, payment or loyalty programs. For transportation the solution is based on Calypso technology, which includes interoperability thanks to a Java applet, and can be administered completely through GlobalPlatform mechanisms such as Secure Channel Protocol. For payments a major global payment application has been successfully loaded and tested.

The card supports battery off mode, ensuring that the end user has full control of all offered services even if batteries are empty.

Service administration over the air enables flexibility, secured by standardized GlobalPlatform mechanisms. As the applications reside on the UICC, the solution is portable: If the user exchanges the handset, the chip can easily be installed in the new device, making all services available again immediately. The UICC as a secured and reliable token keeps all valuable information, such as tickets or any other kind of end user credentials that can be stored safely.

"Sagem Orga is proud to be selected as a partner supporting Orange in this high technology challenge," said François Blanchard, Global Account Marketing Manager at Sagem Orga.