Gemalto, a specialist in the digital security, is positioned as the ndegrees1 supplier in the Annual Report E-passports 2006-2007 of Keesing Journal of Documents & Identity. While the estimate at the end of last year predicted 40 countries (including 27 VWP(1) nations) were to be deploying electronic passport programs, that number has now almost doubled to 70 nations. The report also indicates that last year estimate of the volume of e-passports to be issued by the VWP nations is around 30 millions on an annual basis, while overall annual volume in a couple of years time is estimated at around 100 million.  The Keesing report states that Gemalto supplies at least 30% of VWP nations and also the US, and is the leading vendor in the market.

The Gemalto electronic passport technology includes a highly secure operating system software and encryption algorithms working inside a contactless microprocessor incorporated into the passports cover. The microcontroller is embedded in a module that is highly resistant to damage. Gemaltos e-passport references in 2006 include:

- France : First French documents were delivered in April last year, and within 5 months more than one million had been issued - a world record for the industry. At the end of 2006 a total of 2 million were delivered.

- The United States of America: In August, the US Government Printing Office (GPO) placed its first order with Gemalto. The GPO and the U.S. Department of State that evaluated the Gemalto solution confirmed that it fully satisfies their mandatory requirements for privacy protection, security, durability, manufacturing yield, transaction speed and communications performance.

- Estonia: In October the Estonian authorities announced that Gemalto would provide them with a comprehensive turnkey e-passport solution. First deliveries started in early 2007.

- Portugal, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Latvia and Slovenia also selected Gemaltos travel document solutions in 2006.

Prior e-passport references include Russia and Singapore.

Gemalto aims at making each interaction between citizens and public sector organizations more secure, easier and private. Security, durability and reliability of exchanges and the protection of citizens privacy are essential when it comes to digital identity. Gemalto supports key identity applications such as e-visas, e-passports and other international or national identification initiatives as well as governmental agencies programs dedicated to healthcare and social security. Gemaltos in-depth knowledge of secure identity solutions and services, its expertise in ID management and industrial security processes and its undisputable list of worldwide references positions the company as a preferred partner for governments.

For more information, please send your e-mails to swm@infothe.com.

ⓒ2007 www.SecurityWorldMag.com. All rights reserved.