WLAN Smart Card Consortium Announces Unified Smart Card Authentication for Wireless Networks; IETF Internet-Draft Proposal to Define EAP Smart Card Authentication Type.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The WLAN Smart Card Consortium has endorsed a new EAP-SC authentication type to serve as a unified secure point of entry for all IP wireless networks including Wi-Fi, WiMAX and Wi-Mobile, and their interconnect (IEEE 802.11, 802.16, 802.20 and 802.21).

The new authentication type provides wireless clients as diverse as handsets, PDAs, PCs and other embedded systems with a unique way to access standard TLS authentication in a tamper proof form factor.

Additionally, the new EAP-SC type also offers access to GSM and 3G universal mobile standards with SIM and USIM authentication schemes. Taken together, the components of EAP-SC define the entrance into valued information networks, uniformly and in concert with the bearer.

"With one billion units sold each year, the smart card is the de facto standard for the networking world, and its entry into the emerging EAP standard of wireless access is the unifying proposition that the industry has been waiting for," said Guy Pujolle, Chairman of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium's Technical Committee.

The new EAP-SC type fits immediately into existing authentication infrastructures and enhances security by enabling secure storage, tamper resistance and cryptographic capabilities of the smart card. This solves the critical problem of handing-off authentication seamlessly among multiple wireless network technologies.

The IETF Internet-Draft Proposal is available at http://WLANSmartCard.org/. The next WLAN Smart Card Consortium meeting will be in Munich December 2 & 3.

About WLAN Smart Card Consortium:

The mission of the WLAN Smart Card Consortium is to define and promote smart card related specifications for wireless network access across the broad spectrum of technologies and markets related to valued information networks. Members include: ActivCard, Alcatel, Aspects Software Ltd, Athena SCS, Atmel, Axalto, Dai Nippon Printing, ENST, Gemplus, Giesecke & Devrient, Identity Alliance, Infineon Technologies AG, Oberthur Card Systems, Raak Technologies, Sagem, SCM Microsystems, Texas Instruments, Trusted Logic, Ucopia, University of Cantabria, and Visa International.