Gemplus International SA (GEMP)

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Gemplus Powers Microsoft's Technology Centers with Smart Cards for Network Security
Tuesday February 24, 2:00 am ET

LUXEMBOURG and HORSHAM, Pennsylvania, February 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

Microsoft Technology Centers Around the World Demonstrate Gemplus Smart Cards for Network Security in Windows-based Environments

Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM, NASDAQ:GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart card solutions, today announces the delivery of smart cards, readers, and software to Microsoft for use in the Microsoft Technology Centers around the world. Microsoft will use Gemplus technology to demonstrate to clients the integration and implementation of smart cards in a Windows-based environment for network security.

Microsoft plans to install Gemplus readers and software in its technology centers in the United States (five locations: Redmond, WA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; Silicon Valley), Germany, England, Taiwan, Japan, and China during the first half of 2004. Corporate enterprise visitors will be able to see Gemplus smart cards used during demonstrations to securely log-on to PCs, digitally sign e-mails, and perform remote log-ons using a virtual private network.

"We see a growing need among our large enterprise customers to learn more about smart cards and security technologies that support single sign-on and two-factor authentication within Windows-based environments. We are pleased to demonstrate solutions using these technologies and value Gemplus's support in providing the smart card hardware and software components to make this possible," said Brian Groth, Group Program Manager, Microsoft.

Smart cards are experiencing increased adoption with many companies around the world that are looking to enhance the security and flexibility of their employee badge programs. Gemplus's U.S. Corporate Security Systems Study, which was carried out by Frost & Sullivan, showed that 30% of Fortune 500 companies surveyed are currently using or testing smart cards within their security systems and more than one-third of the companies surveyed plan to use smart cards within their corporate security systems within the next three years.

The Microsoft Technology Centers will use smart cards, PC-link readers, and software from Gemplus's SafesITe solution. SafesITe provides customers and system integrators with all the products (cards, readers & software) and services necessary to seamlessly deploy multi-purpose employee cards as part of an organization's existing infrastructure. SafesITe supports Microsoft Windows.

"Gemplus is excited to support Microsoft in its effort to educate enterprises on the benefits of smart cards within an identity infrastructure ," said Dave Ludin, Gemplus's Vice President of Financial and Security Solutions in North America. "Smart cards offer a versatile platform to combine building access and network security on one card, offering strong protection of IT assets while providing convenience to employees who can access many services with one card."

To learn more about the technology used in Microsoft's technology centers and Gemplus's SafesITe solution, please visit the Gemplus booth #521 at the RSA Security Conference 2004 in San Francisco, CA from February 24-26.