Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

G&D unveils secure ID system for Blackberry users

Friday, May 8, 2009

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is launching a security product for users of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. G&D’s Mobile Security Card integrates with BlackBerry Device Software 5.0, which is planned for launch later this year, and provides customers with an independent cryptographic module that authenticates users and also encrypts information sent to and from a BlackBerry smartphone.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution gives mobile users secure access to their email, calendar, address book, tasks and notes as well as enterprise instant messaging, Web-based applications and services (intranet) and other corporate applications.


For authorities and companies with special security requirements, G&D has extended its existing range of services to include a new solution which can be integrated in any organization’s IT procedures. It provides additional encryption for mobile e-mail – along the entire transmission route between senders and receivers.

Users simply insert the G&D Mobile Security Card into the microSD card slot of their BlackBerry smartphone. In addition to providing usable data memory of at least 1 GB, the Mobile Security Card also contains an efficient smart card chip as an alternative to external smart cards.

The Mobile Security Card can act as an independent cryptographic module and takes over the function of user authentication and all encryption and signature operations. Users authenticate themselves to the Mobile Security Card by means of a two-factor process and, if successful, are then granted access to their BlackBerry smartphone.

The card can also be integrated into the customer’s mail server environment to provide user-friendly encryption and signature services for e-mail traffic. The data stored on a BlackBerry smartphone’s in-built memory can also be encrypted with the help of G&D’s Mobile Security Card. [end] 

Research In Motion has officially launched BlackBerry 7.1 OS, the latest upgrade to its smart phone operating system.

Available today on BlackBerry App World, BlackBerry 7.1 offers a new content sharing application for NFC phone users called “BlackBerry Tag.” According to RIM, the app allows users to swap contact info, documents, photos, URLs, and invite friends to BBM by simply tapping their NFC-enabled handsets together.

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Turkcell, Turkey’s largest mobile operator, has announced the launch of its Cep-T Cüzdan NFC mobile wallet application on BlackBerry Bold 9900 smart phones.

Turkcell subscribers with NFC-enabled Bold 9900s can now use the mobile wallet service to make contactless payments at any MasterCard PayPass-enabled point of sale across Turkey, as well as abroad.

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With an array of NFC-enabled handsets now on the market, including two with PayPass certification, RIM may be in a good position to integrate NFC payments into its BlackBerry Wallet service, reports BerryReview.

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RIM has unveiled a new contactless content-sharing system for NFC-enabled BlackBerry smart phones, according to Silicon.com.

“BlackBerry Tag” will enable users to share contact info, documents, URLs, photos and other media by simply tapping their NFC-enabled BlackBerry handsets together. The service will also connect to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), allowing users to tap phones to add each other as friends.

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Spanish mobile operator Telefónica and Research in Motion (RIM) have announced the launch of a contacless mobile payments pilot on NFC-enabled BlackBerry smart phones.

With the help of local banks and retailers, Telefónica will roll out BlackBerry smart phones equipped with the company’s “Telefónica Wallet” mobile app to 350 employees at its headquarters in Distrito Telefónica, Madrid, Spain.

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Research In Motion (RIM) has partnered with Tapit, a Sydney based NFC marketing company, to launch a campaign in Australia that uses NFC-enabled posters and tokens to share content for BlackBerry users.

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