StepNexus Announces GSM SIM/USIM on MULTOS; New Application Increases Security for GSM Networks Worldwide.

SAN FRANCISCO -- StepNexus Inc., the premier provider of the world's first open, high-security, multi-application, smart card operating system MULTOS(TM), today announced the availability of GSM SIM/USIM on MULTOS. The GSM applications, developed by Mobile-Mind Inc., a subsidiary of WorldCell, Inc., are now available from StepNexus to organizations using the MULTOS, and the customers of the MULTOS Issuance Partners.

This licensing agreement allows StepNexus to offer a solution through its STEP scheme and MULTOS technology on SIM cards to a fast growing market. StepNexus technology will provide mobile service providers the architectures needed for provisioning trusted environments for increasingly customized services. The MULTOS SIM and USIM applications incorporate all the benefits and features of MULTOS to the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) mobility market and address both SIM and 3G USIM requirements.

"Secure over-the-air loading and deletion of information has become increasingly important as momentum increases towards having this mobile platform become a general purpose key manager and security token, thereby heightening the need for robust security on the SIM card," said John Wood, CEO of StepNexus Inc. "This technology is a welcome addition to the diverse products readily available from StepNexus."

The SIM/USIM applications support value-added services including secure end-to-end encrypted messaging developed by Mobile-Mind, roaming call redirection and SIM-based quality of service (QoS) measurement.

"The unique security features of the MULTOS system will speed over-the-air SIM application administration and provide more application functionality for developers in less time, in less space and using less power than with today's multi-application SIMs," said Scott Guthery, CTO of Mobile-Mind Inc. "For all stakeholders, this is a major step forward for the SIM application platform."

The MULTOS SIM and USIM applications offer the same advantages of multi-application support, secure packet loading and the strong security that MULTOS has successfully deployed for smart cards and identity cards worldwide. The applications also provide the opportunity for post-issuance of operator-specific applications.

The MULTOS GSM SIM and USIM are both available on Keycorp MULTOS Infineon platform which has been successfully certified by the Aspects Software GSM 11.17 Phase II SIM Test Suite.

MULTOS SIM DETAILS:

The GSM SIM is a MULTOS application built on top of an ISO/IEC 7816-4 smart card file system that has been fine tuned to reduce size and enhance performance of the MULTOS SIM and USIM. The MULTOS SIM application consists of approximately 7K bytes of executable code. The size of the file system depends on the features and capacities selected by the network operator. SIM phone book and other file-system based features can be customized as desired. As an added security option, the MULTOS SIM supports the encryption of out-going SMS messages and the decryption of in-coming SMS messages using keys managed by the end-user organization. MULTOS USIM application incorporates the same capability as the SIM application and implements 3GPP TS 31.122 on the same platform.

MULTOS: The Platform for Secure Card Services

As StepNexus' flagship smart card system, MULTOS is the world's highest security, open standard smart card platform and the Global MULTOS Key Management Authority. It allows card issuers and application providers to share space on a single chip platform. A range of applications ranging from payment, authentication, digital identity, biometrics, loyalty, and contactless ticketing may securely reside on a MULTOS powered chip. More than 50 million MULTOS smart cards have been issued in more than 30 countries, in projects ranging from banking, national identity, campus security, secure ID and transit.

About StepNexus:

StepNexus is a joint venture between Oak Hill Venture Partners, Keycorp, Hitachi and MasterCard International, dedicated to extending trusted environments to remote devices. StepNexus acquired all intellectual property and operations for MULTOS -- the world's highest security, open standard smart card platform and the global MULTOS KMA (Key Management Authority). The company also owns Nectar(TM), the first implementation of Microsoft .NET on smartcards. StepNexus' secure packets content delivery mechanism enables device issuers of any StepNexus platform to permit third-party content providers to deliver additional services while maintaining security and the trusted environment. For more information visit www.stepnexus.com.

About Mobile-Mind:

Mobile-Mind Inc. is internationally recognized for the development of SIM and smart card technologies, delivering expert design and engineering services for wireless and smart card deployment. Mobile-Mind was acquired by WorldCell Inc., in March 2006, and together, with WorldCell, they offer customers advanced wireless mobile applications. Worldcell is a leading wireless services company providing global voice and data mobile services for government, enterprise and mobile professionals. Worldcell is based in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA with domestic offices in Washington, DC, and Boston, MA, and international offices in Germany, Iceland, Bermuda and Brazil.