Giesecke & Devrient enables contactless payment with Swatch Bellamy

Munich, November 4, 2015 – Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is the provider of the embedded smart card chip and the operating system that enable the first contactless payment watch in China, Bellamy, by the Swiss watchmaker Swatch.

“We are very proud and honored that G&D had the opportunity to contribute to the innovative Swatch Bellamy watch”, said Stefan Auerbach, group executive mobile security at G&D. “Partnering with hardware manufacturers is an ideal way of combining style, convenience and security. The Swatch Bellamy makes every-day payment transactions more convenient for the global user, and we make sure that these transactions are protected. We see ‘smart hardware’ as the next step toward a hyperconnected world and are poised to support this development with our security expertise. Payment functions are gradually becoming a standard feature for wearables, and we expect this trend to expand to other hardware, incorporating not only payment but also other applications, such as for example public transport. Security for these applications, the protection of data and privacy, is a must in order to create broad acceptance in the markets.”

The smart card chip by G&D in the Swatch Bellamy is fully compliant with the security specifications for wearable products issued by China UnionPay and allows worldwide contactless payments at all five million China UnionPay point of sales (POS) terminals equipped with NFC, out of a much higher total amount overall. In addition, the chip features a debit card function, in this case linked to an account in the Bank of Communications, that can be used for cash withdrawal and for topping up e-cash amounts. The payment functions integrated into the watch will not consume any battery power, thus preserving the performance of the Swatch Bellamy.

“The Chinese and Asian markets are trendsetters when it comes to mobile applications as well as smart devices and smart hardware,” stated Dr. Roland Savoy, managing director APAC at G&D. “In cooperation with partners across industries, such as Swatch, we have been fostering innovation and smart security in these markets. Swatch affording us the chance to supply security for its Bellamy watch is a clear signal that we are on the right track with our mobile security products and solutions in Asia.”

Nick Hayek, CEO of Swatch Group and Swatch: “We are happy with the cooperation with the G&D team in the Swatch Bellamy project. And we look forward to developing this relationship further.”

About Swatch

Swatch, launched in 1983 by Nicolas G. Hayek, is a leading Swiss watch maker and one of the world’s most popular brands. The first Swatch watches surprised everyone with their revolutionary concept, creative design and provocative spirit. Today Swatch continues to innovate and surprise with new models, collections and special editions. The brand maintains a strong presence in the world of sports with its commitment to snowboarding, freeskiing, surfing, beach volleyball and mountain bike slopestyle. Right from the start, Swatch connected with art and artists, and Swatch watches remain a prominent canvas for artists from a broad range of disciplines.

About Giesecke & Devrient

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a leading international technology provider headquartered in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1852, the Group has a workforce of over 11,450 employees and generated sales of approximately EUR 1.83 billion in the 2014 fiscal year. 58 subsidiaries and joint ventures in 31 countries ensure customer proximity worldwide.

G&D develops, produces, and distributes products and solutions in the payment, secure communication, and identity management sectors. G&D is a technology leader in these markets and holds a strong competitive position. The Group’s customer base mainly comprises central and commercial banks, mobile network operators, business enterprises, governments, and public authorities. For more information, please visit: www.gi-de.com