Atmel to Enter 32-Bit High Memory Density Smart Card Chip Market; Atmel's System Level Integration Provides Solution For Litronic Forte' Project.SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 1998--Atmel Corp. (Nasdaq:ATML) today announced its participation in the Forte' Project led by Litronic in partnership with the National Security Agency National Security Agency (NSA), an independent agency within the U.S. Dept. of Defense. Founded by presidential order in 1952, its primary function is to encode and decode communications intelligence and to protect U.S. signals and information systems. The mission of its Information Systems Security department (INFOSEC) is to protect classified and sensitive information stored on government computers or networks. (NSA). Atmel will deliver a 32-bit ARM(TM)-based Smart Card chip design that includes a high-speed Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, high capacity EEPROM, ROM and several different hardware encryption engines among other features. Atmel was chosen by Litronic for its ability to combine multiple technologies into a system level integration solution for the next generation FORTEZZA An authentication system endorsed by the National Security Agency that uses a PC Card as the authentication token. Fortezza is part of the U.S. government's GOSIP policy, and vendors must supply Fortezza-compliant products in order to win contracts. Fortezza uses a 56-bit key based on the DES encryption method. The term means "fortress" in Italian. cards currently used by the U.S. government. Placing the features of the FORTEZZA system on a Smart Card is much more cost effective than the PCMCIA cards in use today. No other Smart Card chip design integrates as many functional features as the Forte' design. This chip is the first to offer practical on-board bulk or stream encryption. It is the first single chip Smart Card solution to provide FIPS 140-1 level 3 security, high performance multiple encryption technology, and multi-application support. The Forte' chip will leverage Atmel's superior EEPROM technology to provide high memory (1) The uppermost end of memory. (2) In PCs, it may refer to any of three areas of memory: (1) the Upper Memory Area (UMA) between 640K and 1M, (2) extended memory above 1M or (3) the High Memory Area (HMA), a 64K region between 1024K and 1088K. Straightforward, isn't it? Today, technicians do not have to deal with this very much. See PC memory, UMA, HMA and extended memory. density combined with a large ROM capacity other logic and analog structures to essentially form a system-on-a-chip for multi-application use. The Atmel device incorporates cryptographic engines including a fast-math coprocessor A mathematical circuit that performs high-speed floating point operations. It is generally built into the CPU chip. In older PCs, such as the 386 and 486SX, the math coprocessor was an optional and separate chip. Floating point capability is very important to computation-intensive CAD work, and many CAD programs will not operate without it. A spreadsheet may use it if available, but it is not mandatory. See array processor and vector processor. for RSA and DSA function, Atmel's proprietary DES engine and a newly developed SkipJack (cryptography) SkipJack - An encryption algorithm created by the NSA (National Security Agency) which encrypts 64-bit blocks of data with an 80-bit key. It is used in the Clipper chip, a VLSI device with an ARM processor core, which is intended to perform cryptographic operations while allowing the security agencies listen in. There are (apparently) two agencies, both of whom have to agree that there is a valid reason to decode a message. Don't laugh, they are serious. engine. Atmel has integrated a randomizer that was developed in concert with the NSA, allowing true random number generation for more secure key generation. Atmel will provide all product hardware development and manufacturing within U.S. borders; Litronic will provide the firmware, also developed here in the United States. Bob Gray, vice president of product development for Litronic said, "Atmel is enabling industry leaders like Litronic to extend our leadership in high-growth markets. Atmel's expertise with regard to reducing system costs and complexity while speeding our time to market was a key factor in selecting them for this project. In addition, the design work on the device is provided by engineering support solely from Atmel's design center in Colorado Springs, Colorado." Litronic provides multi-platform, standards-based security environments for government and commercial users. This total security solution includes software, enabling toolkits, supporting hardware, and professional services. With more than eight years of experience providing innovative information security solutions, Litronic is an industry leader in the development and implementation of security technologies in the commercial and governmental sectors. For detailed company and product information visit the Litronic web site at www.litronic.com. The National Security Agency (NSA) Information Systems Security Organization (ISSO ISSO - Information Services Support Office (Army) ISSO - Information System Security Officer ISSO - Information Systems Security Office ISSO - Information Systems Security Organization ISSO - Institute for Space Systems Operations ISSO - International Self-Service Organization), network Security Group, is tasked with enabling network security solutions for its DOD customers. Project Forte' reaffirms NSA's commitment to enabling solutions that provide a broad range of cost, performance, and security trade-offs as well as support for its customers who have the need to communicate with business, government and financial sectors. Participating with industrial partners in a technology-sharing venture such as this allows the Government to address its short-term interoperability needs while contributing to the robustness of COTS security products. Founded in 1984, Atmel Corp. is headquartered in San Jose, with principal manufacturing facilities in Colorado Springs, Nantes and Rousset, France and Heilbronn, Germany. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets on a worldwide basis advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory, and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system level integration semiconductor solutions using advanced CMOS, BiCMOS, BiPolar and SiGe process technologies. Atmel product and financial information are available from its Fax-on-Demand service. In North America call 800/292-8635 or Internationally, call 408/441-0732. Requests may be made via e-mail to literature@atmel.com or by visiting Atmel's website at www.atmel.com. Note to Editors: Atmel, the Atmel logo and combinations thereof are trademarks of Atmel Corporation. Additional terms and product names in this document may be trademarks of others. |
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