AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced it will provide its Trusted Services Management (TSM) service to support the launch of Near-Field Communication (NFC) applications in Thailand. The service is the first pan-Asian deployment for Gemalto’s certified TSM center in Taiwan. This pioneering project has Gemalto partnering with KASIKORNBANK, the country’s second largest bank, and with Advanced Info Services (AIS), the nation’s largest telecommunications operator.

Mobile NFC opens up an entire new dimension in digital freedom for Thai consumers, transforming their mobile phones into contactless devices for touch-and-go applications, such as payment at retail outlet partners. Since starting in July 2010, selected customers simply collect their phone from KASIKORNBANK to enjoy mobile NFC services.

Gemalto is entrusted with the management and preparation of sensitive user information from KASIKORNBANK to operate secure over-the-air (OTA) personalization services that enable mobile subscribers to gain access to NFC payments and AIS services.

“With the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones, we are always looking for innovations to improve our offerings to our customers,” commented Mr. Suvit Arayawilaipong, Vice President Product & Service Development, Advanced Info Service Plc. “This is the first OTA provisioning service that is offered from outside the country. It allows NFC to be deployed in Thailand smoothly and securely. With Gemalto we are working with a partner that we can trust.”

Mr. Art Wichiencharoen, Senior VP of Retail and SME e-Business, KASIKORNBANK, added: “Leveraging Gemalto’s experience, we are able to make NFC payment easy to use. We have a simple user interface on the phone that guides a user to some 40 retail outlets where they can immediately perform mobile NFC payments like for food, entertainment and grocery shopping. They will appreciate this fast and fuss-free new means of payment.”

“With KASIKORNBANK and AIS we are able to bring the convenience of mobile NFC sooner and in a secure manner to Thai consumers,” stated Mr Tan Teck-Lee, President, Gemalto Asia. “Gemalto’s TSM services are designed to be implemented securely across national borders and this will help countries to overcome local barriers to NFC implementations. Gemalto is clearly the partner of choice, having the most extensive experience in NFC launches and numerous pilot programs active across the world.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2009 annual revenues of €1.65 billion, and over 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, with research and service centers in 41 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), Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICC) 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.