NXP Assigns its Mobile Services Business to Gemalto

NXP, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips (News - Alert), announced that it has signed an agreement with digital security company - Gemalto, for the transfer of its mobile service business.

 

NXP officials also clarified that the related unit based in Sophia Antipolis, France will continue to develop and market software and service solutions compliant with the MIFARE4Mobile interface specifications which manage MIFARE-based applications in Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile devices.

 

The company has been designing semiconductors, system solutions and software that aim to deliver better sensory experiences in TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, mobile phones, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices.

 

MIFARE is a rising contactless technology in transport networks, ticketing and access management globally. MIFARE-based applications is believed to transform NFC mobile phones into transport or entry tickets, offering a range of sales and distribution, ticketing and validation services from a single device. These applications will allow consumers to purchase and reload tickets anytime, anywhere; avoid queues at ticket counters and access card information straight from the screen of their NFC mobile phones.

 

This current strategic agreement signed by the two companies aims to accelerate the global adoption of NFC technology in existing contactless infrastructures and further promote the deployment of MIFARE, said NXP officials. Adding MIFARE4Mobile software is believed to further strengthen Gemalto’s (News - Alert) Trusted Service Manager (TSM) platform offer that connects transport operators, banks and mobile phone operators and further enabling the mobile phone to be used with existing payment and contactless ticketing infrastructure.

 

The TSM facilitates the entire process of downloading tickets and subscriptions onto the cell phone.

 

Gemalto offers end-to-end security solutions that are designed to make personal digital interactions more convenient and safe. The company’s offerings range from the development of software applications through the design and production of secure personal devices such as smart cards, SIMs, e-passports and tokens, to the deployment of managed services for our customers.

 

Olivier Piou, chief executive officer at Gemalto said, “We believe that transportation will be a favorite application for NFC phones and will help spur adoption of the technology. MIFARE is the reference in contactless transportation and we welcome this opportunity to add MIFARE capability to our Trusted Service Manager services platform”.

 

“The agreement demonstrates the importance of the MIFARE technology in contactless applications and is a major step to large scale deployments of NFC based services”, said Rick Clemmer, chief executive officer of NXP Semiconductors (News - Alert).

 

“As the co-inventor and leader in NFC technology, NXP continues to shape the NFC ecosystem with key industry partners by further evolving the MIFARE technology on NFC devices,” added Clemmer.