21 May, 2003
category: Biometrics, Education
- Sagem Awards Gemplus a Contract in the Middle East to Deliver Over Two Million Cards to the UAE population
– Ministry of Interior of the UAE Deploying Smart Card-Based ID Program
to its Citizens to Improve Quality of Public Service
– Sagem and Gemplus Collaboration Results in Second Successive ID
Contract Win, Reinforcing Strength of Their Joint ID Offering
LUXEMBOURG, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Gemplus International SA
(Euronext Paris SA: GEPL.PA; Sicovam: 005768) (Nasdaq: GEMP), the world’s
leading provider of smart card solutions, today announced it will deliver
smart card technology and related services to the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
for its nationwide ID program. The contract involves the issuance of over two
million smart ID cards to the entire UAE population beginning in the summer of
2004.
Gemplus acts as a sub-contractor delivering smart cards, software, and
services from its “ResIDent” secure ID solution, while Sagem, the world leader
in biometrics-based ID systems, is the prime contractor providing advanced
biometrics technology with the AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification
System) and system integration. The UAE nationwide ID program marks the second
successive contract win in the Middle East for the Sagem-Gemplus partnership,
which was formed earlier this year to strengthen the companies’ offerings to
the national ID market. The first contract was in the Sultanate of Oman,
scheduled to roll-out at the end of 2003.
“Gemplus is pleased to be selected as the smart card technology provider
for what is sure to become a landmark technology infrastructure in the Middle
East,” said Gilles Michel, President Gemplus Financial & Security Services.
“This significant contract win proves the strength of our secure ID offering
‘ResIDent,’ which has now been selected for two major national ID deployments
in only 6 months.”
The core objectives of the UAE ID program are to enhance national
identification procedures throughout the country by providing better, faster,
and more accurate public services for its citizens, and to address
identification issues through a higher level of authentication by using smart
card-based biometrics. The UAE Ministry of Interior has invested in a modern
system that utilizes open Java Card(TM) technology, in order to deliver a
flexible ID solution capable of easily accommodating future e-government
applications.
Once the program rolls out, citizens and residents of the UAE will be able
to securely and conveniently store their personal identity credentials on the
cards. Over time it is possible to extend the functionality of the card by
adding applications such as driver’s license, border control, and emergency
medical data. The ID cards combined with biometric recognition can be checked
through both portable terminals and automatic electronic validation.
About Gemplus
Gemplus (Euronext Paris SA: GEPL.PA; Sicovam: 005768; Nasdaq: GEMP) is the
world’s number one provider of smart card solutions.
Gemplus helps its clients offer an exceptional range of portable,
personalized solutions that bring security and convenience to people’s lives.
These include mobile data services, inter-operable banking, identity, WLAN, m-
commerce and a wealth of other applications. Gemplus is the only completely
dedicated, truly global player in the Smart Card industry, with the largest
R&D team, unrivalled experience, and an outstanding track record of
technological innovation.
In 2001, Gemplus was the worldwide smart card leader in both revenue and
total smart card shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest, Frost & Sullivan).
Gemplus was also awarded Frost & Sullivan’s 2002 Market Value Leadership Award
for its exceptional performance.
Gemplus’ revenue in 2002 was 787 million Euros. It employs 5700 people in
37 countries throughout the world.
http://www.gemplus.com
All rights reserved. Gemplus and the Gemplus logo are trademarks and
service marks of Gemplus S.A. and are registered in certain countries. Java
Card is a trademark and service mark of Sun Microsystems, Inc., and may be
registered in certain countries. All other trademarks and service marks,
whether registered or not in specific countries, are the property of their
respective owners.
For further information, contact:
Carl Norell
Gemplus
Tel: +1 (215) 390 2899
Email: [email protected]
Marielle Bricman <br />
Gemplus <br />
Tel: +33 (0)4 42 36 55 96 <br />
Email: [email protected] <br /> <br />
Vanessa Clarke <br />
Edelman Public Relations <br />
Tel: +44 (0)20 7344 1349 <br />
Email: [email protected]
