BusinessWire
February 28, 2006 05:00 AM US Pacific Timezone

Renesas Technology and Giesecke & Devrient to Provide Leading Edge Embedded Security Solutions

MUNICH, Germany & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2006--Renesas Technology Corp. and Giesecke & Devrient GmbH (G&D) announced that Renesas Technology has licensed the high-security Java Card(TM) Operating System from G&D for its security IC used in embedded security applications. Security ICs are specifically designed microcontrollers based on high security smart card chip technology. The Renesas Technology security IC, which is equipped with a FIPS-validated Java Card OS, is suitable for network access ID, point of sale (POS) terminals, and other authentication systems. It allows for the design of embedded security solutions which meet the highest security standards.

Over recent years, the number of applications requiring an enhanced level of security has grown significantly, especially in the areas of identification, finance and data communications. In order to meet the growing security requirements, it is essential to combine security IC technology and secure operating systems already prevalent in the highly secure smart card industry. Java Card(TM) has been widely accepted as one of the smart card industry's standard secure operating systems.

The Renesas Technology security IC has been developed to satisfy the security needs of all these applications, in addition to the stringent criteria of the burgeoning security business market. This market has recently been spurred by the expansion of POS terminals, network access equipment and numerous authentication systems. By coupling this security IC platform with the industry-renowned Java Card OS, Renesas Technology is now ideally positioned to drive the security IC market forward.

As a technology leader in smart cards and card solutions, G&D provides a comprehensive range of Java Card solutions, including a robust development environment and software tools. G&D has implemented Java Card OS on Renesas Technology's smart card ICs for SIM and ID card applications. With this new licensing agreement, G&D expands their business fields into embedded security.

As an extension of the successful business relationship that the two companies have built over the years in the smart card market, Renesas Technology and G&D decided to collaborate further to achieve a common goal to expand the business in the security market.

"Our two companies have enjoyed a close business relationship for many years and by bringing our leading technologies together into new, high-end security solutions, we will remain at the forefront of this rapidly developing security-dependent market," says Andreas Raeschmeier, General Manager Secure Embedded Systems at Giesecke & Devrient.

Hideharu Takebe, General Manager of MCU Business Unit at Renesas Technology Corp., added, "System security and stability are critical for the markets targeted by the secure IC. The Java Card OS is a vital component in ensuring the product delivers high performance and remains robust when used. By partnering with G&D, we are confident that we offer the most advanced technology to match the evolving market for secure data processing."

About Renesas Technology Corp.:

Renesas Technology Corp. is one of the world's leading semiconductor system solutions providers for mobile, automotive and PC/AV (Audio Visual) markets and the world's No.1 supplier of microcontrollers. It is also a leading provider of LCD Driver ICs, Smart Card microcontrollers, RF-ICs, High Power Amplifiers, Mixed Signal ICs, System-on-Chip (SoC), System-in-Package (SiP) and more. Established in 2003 as a joint venture between Hitachi, Ltd. (TOKYO:6501)(NYSE:HIT) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503), Renesas Technology achieved consolidated revenue of 1002.4 billion JPY in FY2004 (end of March 2005). Renesas Technology is based in Tokyo, Japan and has a global network of manufacturing, design and sales operations in around 20 countries with about 26,000 employees worldwide. For further information, please visit http://www.renesas.com

About Giesecke & Devrient:

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a technology leader in the field of smart cards, providing smart card based solutions for the fields of telecommunications, electronic payment, health care, ID, transportation, and Internet security (PKI). G&D is also a leading producer of banknotes and security documents, and dominant in the field of currency automation. Based in Munich, the G&D Group operates subsidiaries and joint ventures around the world. The group employs over 7,000 people and generates annual revenue exceeding EUR 1.16 billion. More information is available on our web site at http://www.gi-de.com.

NOTE: Java is trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Rights to the names of other products, companies, and brands mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners