ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in secure microcontroller ICs, and Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announced a new partnership to develop a range of solutions to initiate and distribute digital security services for NFC (Near Field Communications) applications. Building on the two companies’ extensive security expertise and portfolio of NFC technologies, the partnership aims to deliver solutions that will meet the strong global demand for NFC-based services.

The partners are addressing the industry’s need for a secure element, such as the widely adopted SIM-based NFC solution, for trusted NFC applications. They plan to further develop a number of additional packaged offers that include the highly secure ST33 EAL5+ chipset from ST, specially designed for mobile applications, and Gemalto’s secure operating system, mobile handset software, Trusted Service Management and secure personalization services. The combined turn-key solution will accelerate the adoption and implementation of NFC services, including consumer applications such as contactless payment, transportation ticketing, personal data protection and device integrity.

The development of a state-of-the-art embedded secure element incorporates the industry’s leading public key cryptography, matching the latest GP 2.2, JavaCard 3.0.1 specifications as well as Common Criteria EAL4+ and EMVCo certifications. Available both as a System-in-Package (SIP) version combined with ST’s ST21NFCA NFC controller, or as a stand-alone secure element in DFN or micro-SD packages, it will offer a full range of free memory sizes, up to 768 Kbytes, for applications that can be managed throughout the product lifecycle through innovative memory management.

“ST is delighted to partner with Gemalto on new and innovative products that will fully benefit from ST’s broad NFC portfolio, which ranges from an NFC router to advanced SIM and Secure Element ICs,” commented Marie-France Florentin, General Manager, Secure Microcontrollers Division, STMicroelectronics. “By combining some of the most advanced NFC related technologies from both companies, ST and Gemalto will bring leading and highly secure solutions to the market to further accelerate the deployment of NFC services across the world.”

“Gemalto is committed to bringing best-in-class digital security technology and expertise to advance NFC adoption globally,” added Frédéric Vasnier, Senior Vice President Telecommunications, Gemalto. “To better serve our customers operating in different markets, offering a broad portfolio of solutions reinforces our range of platforms to install, manage and execute mobile applications, and provides the foundation for large scale usage of NFC services. The new partnership ensures that Gemalto and STMicroelectronics will stay at the forefront in providing our customers with the most advanced NFC solutions that best fit their go-to-market.”

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with revenues of €1.9 billion in 2010, and over 10 thousand employees operating out of 87 offices and 13 Research & Development centers in 45 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, eGovernment services and national security. We do this by providing solutions that leverage Gemalto’s secure software and services for governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises to help them achieve their goals, enabled by a wide range of secure personal devices. Gemalto is the world leader for electronic passports and identify cards, smart banking cards, two-factor authentication smart tokens for online protection, Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) and Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICC) in mobile phones. Moreover Gemalto delivers on emerging applications related to the ‘Internet of things’ by supplying wireless modules and Machine Identification Modules (MIM) for Machine-to-Machine communication.

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 visit www.gemalto.com, blog.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter.

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2010, the Company’s net revenues were $10.35 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

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