GlobalPlatform & Sun Microsystems Collaborate on Next Generation Java Card Technology

GlobalPlatform and Sun Microsystems have an alliance to ensure their respective specifications are compatible.

Bob Beer, GlobalPlatform Chairman, comments: “The GlobalPlatform Card Specification v2.2 supports dual-interface contact/contactless smart cards and supports the functionality delivered by Java Card 2.2.2. It facilitates the development of secure and interoperable smart card services, providing better performance and allowing even more products and services to be available from multiple vendors, on one card. For the card issuer, it will open up collaborations with other industry sectors, such as transportation. While for the consumer, they will enjoy the convenience of hands-free applications, additional security and the ability to utilize multiple services using one device.”

“Since 2002, Sun and GlobalPlatform have been working closely together to align their respective smart card technical specifications,” said Alan Brenner, Vice President, Sun Client Systems Group. “With the steady growth we're seeing in the contactless markets, it is critical that these specifications are enhanced to keep pace with the steady cadence of innovation that customers expect.”

The next generation GlobalPlatform Card Specification explicitly defines how contactless cards, chip and card reader, communicate through wireless self-powered induction technology, and the relevant architecture required to support them in a multi-application environment. The Specification supports dual interface contact/contactless cards explaining how to load and manage applications in both environments.

Smart card issuers within the payment, government / identity, and transit sectors will be particularly interested by the clarity that has been established by GlobalPlatform to create a standardized dual-interface for contactless implementations based on the new Java technology. Ease of use, ability to replace cash, operational efficiency, improved security and customer service are some of the many benefits attributed to the increasing popularity of the contactless systems, examples of which have already been successfully deployed in Asia, Europe and North America.

The next generation GlobalPlatform Card Specification has been developed to meet the growing demands of the smart card market. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) functionality has been added to the Card Specification in direct response to the increased standardization of identity authentication on multi-purpose cards. Another key adjustment, as requested by the mobile telecoms industry, is further advancements in secure communication for over-the-air (OTA) update. The full specification will be available to the market in early 2006. All GlobalPlatform Specifications are available royalty-free at www.globalplatform.org.

The next generation Java Card is designed to update the world-leading Java Card specifications in a number of ways, to help facilitate the development of secure and interoperable smart card services, particularly for contactless cards. New functions are designed to include enhancements for better performance and interoperability in contactless environments, new cryptographic and security features, applications program interfaces to streamline the developer experience, and further alignment with smart card standards.