American Banknote Joins GlobalPlatform
26 July, 2007 – American Banknote is the latest organization to join the expanding membership ranks of leading smart card specification body, GlobalPlatform, and the association’s fifth new member since January 2007.
A global supplier of secure documents, services and systems, American Banknote joins GlobalPlatform to support the development and promotion of the organization’s open smart card infrastructure, which it will utilize to enhance the deployment of smart card technology throughout the ABnote Group operating companies ( Leigh Mardon, ABnote Brazil, Transtex, CPS Technologies, Arthur Blank, American Bank Note Company and Presscard).
As a Participating Member of GlobalPlatform, American Banknote representatives will take an active role in the organization’s Systems Committee, helping to evolve the Committee’s technical roadmap and drive the continued, world-wide adoption of GlobalPlatform systems technology. The Systems Committee designs infrastructures for single and multi-application smart card programs and develops associated requirements, specifications and guidelines.
John Ekers, Vice President of Technology at American Banknote, comments: “American Banknote has identified a requirement for a common platform to deploy smart card technology across the ABnote Group and it is felt that the solid foundation offered by GlobalPlatform can help us in our goal to become both the world’s largest card manufacturer and the world’s most capable manufacturer, from a technology perspective.
“Through our involvement with GlobalPlatform, American Banknote aims to establish a common language between our global card manufacturing and personalization plants and benefit from an increased awareness of product developments within a GlobalPlatform framework. Membership in the association also offers us technology networking opportunities within a strong community of international companies.”
American Banknote will also join other member organizations by serving in an advisory capacity on GlobalPlatform’s Advisory Council. The Council proposes work tasks and initiatives for the association and serves as a consultant body to the GlobalPlatform Executive Director and Board of Directors with regard to business and implementation issues.
Bob Beer, Vice President of Business Development at Datacard Group and GlobalPlatform Chairman, adds: “American Banknote’s membership in GlobalPlatform and the company’s decision to utilize GlobalPlatform technology across its international ABnote Group of companies is testament to the global significance of the specifications and their relevance across geographical boundaries. We look forward to welcoming American Banknote’s participation on the Systems Committee and benefiting from the company’s vast experience in this field.”
-ENDS-
Media Inquiries:
| GlobalPlatform | American Banknote Corporation |
| Lee’ann Kaufman / Sarah Jones
iseepr +44 (0) 113 274 5252 Email: leeann@iseepr.co.uk / sarah@iseepr.co.uk |
David M. Kober
Executive Vice President +1 201-592-3400 Email: kober@americanbanknote.com |
About American Banknote
American Banknote Corporation is a holding company and the parent of the ABnote Group, which operates through its subsidiary companies: American BankNote S.A. in Brazil, Transtex S.A. in Argentina, Leigh Mardon in Australia, ABnote NZ in New Zealand, CPS Technologies in France, ABnote Europe, s.r.o. in the Czech Republic, and American Bank Note Company and Arthur Blank & Co. in the United States. ABnote, which traces its founding to 1795 and American patriot Paul Revere, is a global supplier of secure documents, services and systems. Principal products include plastic cards, phone cards, paper certificates, lottery tickets, passports, state titles, certificates of origin, stock certificates, and checks. Services include print production, personalization, secure warehousing, distribution, and fulfilment.
About GlobalPlatform
GlobalPlatform is a member driven organization with world-wide cross-industry representation. GlobalPlatform is the leading, international association, focused on establishing and maintaining interoperable specifications for single and multi-application smart cards, acceptance devices and systems infrastructure that deliver benefits to issuers, service providers and technology suppliers.
These specifications are known as the standard for smart card infrastructure, thanks to their balance of technical superiority and business justification.
GlobalPlatform specifications are freely available and have been adopted in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas by many public and private bodies. As of December 2006, there were over 40 known GlobalPlatform-based smart card implementations world-wide and 110 million GlobalPlatform cards in global circulation. These figures are estimated to rise to 60 and 150 million, respectively, by the end of 2007. Additionally, there are 1.2 billion GlobalPlatform GSM implementations world-wide
GlobalPlatform is an independent, not-for-profit organization and its strategy is defined and prioritized by a Board of Directors. GlobalPlatform is currently chaired by Robert E. Beer, Vice President Business Development, Datacard Group, and vice-chaired by Marc Kekicheff, Vice President Product Technology, Visa International. Didier Begay, Prospective Manager, Corporate Directorate for Security at France Telecom is GlobalPlatform’s Treasurer and Kevin Gillick serves the membership on a full-time basis as its Executive Director.
