Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is demonstrating a prototype of a complete security platform for mobile handsets, designed to enable a range of services including PIN-protected mobile payments, at the Mobile World Congress.
Developed with support from Qualcomm, the proof-of-concept solution is being demonstrated running on Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and shows how G&D’s MobiCore secure application environment and Snapdragon’s security architecture can be used to deliver a complete ARM TrustZone-based security platform to address the requirements of services ranging from mobile payment with secure PIN entry and content management to key management and general user authentication.
“The MobiCore environment provides a fully certifiable security solution that enables applications using dedicated security solutions today to be integrated into advanced mobile devices based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform,” says G&D.
“MobiCore is of great interest to banks and payment service providers in increasingly leveraging the capabilities of smartphones within the security frameworks of existing payment systems,” explains Dr Kai Grassie, head of G&D’s new business division. “G&D sees Qualcomm as a key partner to bring this technology to market.”
“As mobile devices continue to evolve and become more advanced, demand for services such as mobile payment at the point of sale will increase significantly — underscoring the need for exceptional security to protect consumers,” added Jason Bremner, vice president of product management at Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We are pleased to be working with G&D to demonstrate their open security solution on our Snapdragon platform, and look forward to bringing comprehensive security capabilities to market.”
Earlier this month, G&D and ARM announced a strategic partnership to develop highly secure mobile platforms combining G&D’s MobiCore operating system and ARM TrustZone technology to create a protected area in advanced systems-on-chip.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon security architecture incorporates ARM TrustZone technology, allowing MobiCore to execute essential security functions in a multitasking environment parallel to a general purpose operating system. Access to such security functions is provided via a common set of APIs, designed to enable developers to easily take advantage of the security features.
“The first integration of G&D Mobicore and ARM TrustZone technology in a high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon system-on-chip is an important step forward for mobile security,” explains Ian Drew, executive vice president of marketing at ARM. “This commitment demonstrates the importance of security for delivering high value services in future devices.”
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