GlobalPlatform Reaches Out to Asia

2nd February 2004 – GlobalPlatform, the global leader in smart card infrastructure development, has scheduled two educational seminars in Asia which will take place in Tokyo and Taipei on 10 and 12 February 2004, respectively.

The aim of the seminars is to provide leading Asian smart card players with detailed information on GlobalPlatform implementations within the finance, government, mobile telecom, public healthcare, and transit industries and to drive adoption of GlobalPlatform technology in this geographical region.

Bob Beer, Chairman of GlobalPlatform comments: “Asia has a rapidly growing market for smart card infrastructure, thanks to the many successful programs that have already been implemented, across industries, in this region.

“By raising awareness of GlobalPlatform in Asia, we hope to reinforce our position as the provider of the standard for smart card infrastructure and encourage broader adoption of GlobalPlatform Specifications amongst those players that are not yet enjoying the benefits of our technology.

“Of particular significance this year is the expansion of our Asian seminar program, which has previously focused on Japan, to Taiwan. We are really looking forward to sharing the GlobalPlatform message with a previously untapped audience, especially as Taiwan has some exciting projects lined up for 2004 and beyond.”

Japan: This will be the third year that GlobalPlatform has held a seminar in Japan and already over 200 delegates have registered for the event. Hosted at NTT’s Research and Development Center in Tokyo, the event will open with a keynote speech on ‘e-Japan Strategy and Smart Card – the Key Device of Identification’ from Katsuya Makiuchi who represents the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

GlobalPlatform Members and guests will then deliver presentations throughout the day, focusing on the following key areas: An overview of GlobalPlatform, Worldwide Implementations, Mobile Application Strategies, Smart Card Strategies for Credit Card Brands, GlobalPlatform Compliant Products and Implementations.

Taiwan: Following the success of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Card implementation, and the roll out of EMV, there is a growing interest in smart cards within this country. GlobalPlatform’s inaugural Taiwanese seminar therefore aims to increase awareness of GlobalPlatform and its activities across industries. It will be held at the Sheraton Taipei Hotel.

GlobalPlatform Members will deliver presentations throughout the day, focusing on the following key areas: An overview of GlobalPlatform, Worldwide implementations, Committee Activities and Strategies for Smart Card Implementations.

For further information on the GlobalPlatform Asian Seminar program, please follow the link from the ‘Upcoming Events’ box on the home page of the GlobalPlatform website: www.globalplatform.org

-ENDS-

For further media information, please contact Lee’ann Connell or Chrissie Green at Sinclair Mason on + 44 (0) 780 606 0960 or email leeannc@sinclairmason.com leeannc@sinclairmason.com

Notes to Editors: Driven by over 50 cross-industry member organizations, 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 available royalty-free and have been adopted in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia by many public and private bodies. Currently, there are over 20 GlobalPlatform-based smart card implementations world-wide and approximately 50 million GlobalPlatform cards are in global circulation.

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 Chairman Robert E. Beer, Vice President Business Development, Datacard Group. www.globalplatform.org