AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:



Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 - GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announces that it has acquired Valimo Wireless Oy, the world leader in mobile authentication. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.



Valimo has pioneered the use of two-channel, two-factor authentication based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), combining an over the air platform (OTA) with a software client in the SIM to generate a legally binding electronic signature, any time, any place. Valimo enables mobile phone users to securely authenticate themselves, digitally sign documents and confirm legally binding transactions simply by entering a self-chosen passphrase or a PIN code. Valimo Mobile ID solution facilitates secure online banking, mobile payments, governmental services, electronic and mobile commerce, and identity and access rights management for enterprise applications.



Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Valimo has been a Gemalto partner for 5 years. In Turkey for example, a major mobile operator, with over 30 million subscribers, selected Valimo and Gemalto to deploy the largest mobile digital signature commercial roll-out to date. By linking up with 13 banks, this operator enables its customers to strongly authenticate themselves for online banking and to digitally sign bank transactions from their mobile phone. Connecting the Valimo platform to forward-looking governmental agencies in the country, this mobile operator has also started to provide users with access to e-government services, such as obtaining a birth certificate or booking an appointment at the hospital, offering so to citizens a convenient and cost-effective method for administrative formalities.



Olivier Piou, Chief Executive Officer, Gemalto, commented: “Mobile digital signature has been on the horizon for a few years and we believe that we have now reached a tipping point. Whether it is a high end smart phone or a more basic phone, the one digital object consumers always have with them is their mobile phone, and they clearly express their desire to use it more and more for convenience in their daily life. Enabling people to conveniently sign legally-valid transactions is opening up a whole range of new applications for the mobile, at the service of citizens”.



Juha Murtopuro, Valimo CEO added: “The key ingredient in a successful mobile PKI launch is bringing together mobile operators, banks and governmental agencies. Going forward, Valimo will be able to leverage Gemalto’s customer relationships in these domains to successfully deploy mobile strong authentication. We are happy as we believe this combination will accelerate the much expected deployment of Mobile ID, including into new territories and new markets such as e-banking and governments services”.



About Valimo Wireless



VALIMO is your ID On-Line



Valimo mobilizes digital IDs. Valimo Mobile ID allows mobile phone users to securely authenticate, digitally sign documents, confirm transactions and payments, simply by entering a self-chosen PIN code. The multi-purpose solution combines strong security and ease of use, enabling new service concepts and more efficient processes. Valimo Mobile ID is used in a variety of services throughout the world, including online banking, mobile payments, e/m-commerce applications, governmental services, along with enterprise identity and access management. The two-channel, two-factor authentication method based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) produces a legally binding signature regardless of time and place. Valimo Mobile ID solutions are global market leaders in terms of installation base and number of active users. Founded in 2000, Valimo Wireless is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. For further information, please visit www.valimo.com.



About Gemalto



Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.



Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.



Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM), Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.



As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.



For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.