100 Million GSM Smartcards

According to figures from industry association Eurosmart, GlobalPlatform is succeeding in its mission to accelerate the rate of global adoption of interoperable smart card standards. By the end of 2006 it is estimated that over 100 million GlobalPlatform cards will have been deployed worldwide. Also, by the end of 2006, the number of GSM cards using GlobalPlatform technology for Over-the-Air downloads will have exceeded 1 billion globally.

There are now more than 40 widely publicized implementations of GlobalPlatform technology. At present, GlobalPlatform technology is utilized in Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas across finance, ID/security, government, mobile telecom, and healthcare markets. Current implementations range from eID and ePassport programs to enhanced credit and debit cardholder loyalty programs, all of which offer post-issuance download capabilities.

GlobalPlatform Specifications offer an interoperable, flexible, backwards-compatible and secure platform for development of cards, devices, and systems, allowing adopters the opportunity to source interoperable components from several suppliers for their single or multiple-application smart card model. By providing these specifications on a royalty-free basis, GlobalPlatform has greatly simplified world-wide access to its standards and further encouraged end-users and the vendor community to adopt a universal approach to the development of smart card infrastructures.

"These landmark figures from Eurosmart are a clear indication that our aim to drive adoption of a standardized smart card environment is taking root," comments GlobalPlatform's Executive Director, Kevin Gillick, "Driven by the need for strong security, enriched applications and services, as well as the need to remain competitive, these statistics confirm that the industry is accelerating towards a standardized and interoperable smart card infrastructure."

Posted to the site on 7th August 2006