ST, SmardTech collaborate on smart card solution

STMicroelectronics (ST) announced an on-going collaboration with SmardTech, a software provider for smart card-based applications, to develop and deliver a highly efficient smart card solution, based on the ST19W secure MCU: HIF boot mode" target=_blank>microcontroller family and the SmardOS OS, as part of an electronic ticketing system developed by card.etc AG, together with ERG Transit Systems. According to ST, the smart card solution fully meets the technical requirements of the VDV (Association of German Transport Operators) Kernapplikation project to develop and establish a national e-ticketing technology standard.

ST's ST19W secure contactless chip, which is fully compliant with the ISO 14443 Type B standard and is Common Criteria (CC) EAL5+ certified, integrates an RF UART for high-speed communication and a hardware cryptographic engine capable of handling secure transactions, digital signatures and other cryptographic algorithms at hardware level. Combined with low power consumption and a very good operating range, this secure chip is designed for transport applications and is capable of processing a typical transport transaction in less than 100ms.

SmardTech's SmardOS OS is an efficient, dual-standard (ISO 14443 contactless, or ISO 7816 contact type) interface, object-oriented, multi-application and multi-tasking, secure OS. It supports the most common cryptographic algorithms and schemes; is protected against typical smart card attacks such as logical and timing attacks, SPA, DPA, DFA, EMA and memory corruption; and is ready for Common Criteria security certification. This OS supports instant application update, loading and removal.

Working seamlessly with the ST19W secure contactless platform, SmardOS brings exceptional performance to the market for the most demanding e-ticketing applications, said the press release.