Hewlett-Packard Co. and Gemplus Group said they are making commercial headway with their ImagineCard smart card alliance.
Gemplus, the leading maker of chip cards, recently announced a program with its distributors to demonstrate ImagineCard security capabilities in communications over the Internet's World Wide Web.
Late last month, Signal Internet Technologies Inc. said it would rely on the Hewlett-Packard Praesidium security framework with ImagineCard technology to strengthen user authentication in business-to-business electronic commerce.
Gemplus, Hewlett-Packard, and the data base systems company Informix Inc. launched the alliance in October 1995. They said their system is the first in "mass production" that uses smart cards to enhance transaction security on the Internet or corporate intranets.
Gemplus and Hewlett-Packard are in the forefront of a computer industry movement promoting keyboards and other attachments that can read chip cards.
Pittsburgh-based Signal Internet Technologies said it will integrate ImagineCard with its Segway products, which link large manufacturers and distributors with trading partners.
Like many electronic commerce vendors, Signal is concerned about transaction and network security. It sees ImagineCard as a way to both authenticate users and do "one-to-one" marketing.
"The introduction of enhanced security offerings like ImagineCard will alleviate much of the concern ... and help drive business-to-business electronic commerce," said Joseph P. Parker, Signal's founder and chief technology officer.
"We are extending the capabilities of the Segway suite" with ImagineCard, he said. "In addition to providing connectivity, scaleability, and ease of use, we can offer our customers enhanced security features such as robust authentication that help protect personal information and transactions.
"The next step is to add digital signature capabilities to improve data integrity (and) ensure nonrepudiation of electronic transactions."
ImagineCard "breaks down the final barrier for making e-commerce a reality," said Thierry Costa, Hewlett-Packard worldwide smart card business manager. "We're addressing many of the fundamental security needs for both business and consumer markets."
Gemplus of Gemenos, France, described its ImagineCard initiative as an Internet security demonstration. Gemplus resellers will use smart cards for user authentication and access to confidential information that is tailored to their needs, in much the way Internet banking or business-to-business commerce might operate.
The program "demonstrates not only Gemplus' strong commitment to this technology but also its support for value-added resellers and customers," said Caroline Jammet, manager of indirect sales.
