BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced that it has started supplying its UICC (Universal Identity Cryptographic Computer) and R-UIM (Removable User Identity Module) cards to the three major mobile operators in China, in preparation for the highly-anticipated 3G commercial launches this year. With deliveries made through its joint ventures in China, Gemalto is the first provider to be fully qualified to support the different 3G wireless standards; CDMA EVDO, TD-SCDMA and WCDMA.

3G brings about an increase in the performance and usability of data-driven applications. The benefits of portable secure personal devices such as the UICC and R-UIM can be more fully utilized in this way. Whilst the secure user identification embedded applications provide the secure, reliable connectivity to the network, value-added applications loaded on the cards extend the operator’s ability to reach their target subscribers. Value-added applications such as multimedia content distribution, mobile TV access or mobile payment for instance, will benefit from the faster bandwidth and lower latency both increasing the responsiveness and the breadth of applications being offered, thereby improving ease of use.

“We are extremely honored to play a part in China’s telecommunication history by supplying our most advanced technology to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom through our partners” said Tan Teck Lee, President, Gemalto Asia. “With the current pace of technological advancement subscribers have increasingly higher expectations of their mobile lifestyle experience. The UICC and R-UIM are the perfect platforms for us to support deployment of the wide-spectrum of 3G value-added services that operators will offer to their subscribers“.

Earlier in January, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued 3G licenses to China Mobile (TD-SCDMA), China Telecom (WCDMA) and China Unicom (CDMA EVDO), which marked the beginning of China’s entrance into the 3G era. Operators have subsequently launched trial 3G services in various cities in preparation for the official launch nationwide.

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.