INSIDE Contactless launches SecuRead SIP for NFC mobile devices

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: INSIDE Contactless, a leader in semiconductor solutions for secure transactions and digital identity, has introduced SecuRead, a complete system-in-package (SIP) NFC solution that makes it simple for manufacturers of NFC mobile and other devices to integrate all of the contactless, security and application functions required for a broad range of NFC payment, retail, transit, ID and access control applications.

SecuRead integrates INSIDE’s award-winning MicroRead NFC controller with a high-performance security controller from Infineon Technologies and a GlobalPlatform-compliant Java Card operating system from Giesecke & Devrient. SecuRead also integrates INSIDE’s Open NFC protocol stack to provide a best-of-breed solution that helps mobile device manufacturers bring rich NFC capabilities to market more quickly.

“Unlike other NFC solutions, which must be integrated from multiple hardware and software providers and are less technically robust, SecuRead truly breaks new ground in the NFC market, providing a one-stop-shop, turn-key solution that mobile device makers can use to enable a broad range of NFC applications in their products,” said Loic Hamon, vice president of products and marketing for NFC at INSIDE Contactless.

“SecuRead offers a superior NFC controller, one of the largest capacity and most flexible secure elements on the market and the leading Java Card OS in a single package, with superior software and technical support from a single, global supplier.”

According to Hamon, INSIDE’s SecuRead already has been selected by a leading mobile device manufacturer for use in NFC mobile device products due out in 2011.

“Trusted applications like banking and payment demand the highest level of proven security in their hardware and their operating systems, and this is what our secure element brings to the SecuRead SIP solution,” said Juergen Spaenkuch, director, platform security at Infineon Technologies.

“Infineon’s secure element chip dedicated to NFC applications has been certified to the highest proven security certifications and type approvals such as Common Criteria EAL5+ (high) and EMVCo. The chip also offers an optimized interface to the MicroRead NFC controller, thereby enabling INSIDE to create a superior product to meet current and future requirements of the mobile industry.”

SecuRead offers all the functionality of INSIDE’s third-generation MicroRead v3 silicon—plus the secure element and Java Card OS—in a VQFN-32 package, and is pin-for-pin compatible with the standalone MicroRead product.

The on-chip Java Card operating system, based on G&D’s Convego Join 4, includes the implementation of the GlobalPlatform 2.1.1 specifications, supports the full Java Card 3.0.1 API and is compliant with relevant ISO standards as well as EMV for domestic and international mobile payment.

The Java Card Operating system supports core AES cryptography for OSPT standards in the transit fare collection market, and a MIFARE-compliant emulation is provided for compatibility for some transit applications. SecuRead also supports HID iCLASS virtual credentials and is HID Trusted Identity Platform (TIP)-enabled for access control and emerging mobile applications.

The secure element features a powerful secure microcontroller with multitasking capability that stores both code and data in a 144KB non-volatile memory, and is Common Criteria EAL5+ (high) certified and EMVCo approved.

“SecuRead represents another productive partnership with INSIDE Contactless to create an innovative solution for the mobile industry,” said Axel Deininger, head of the payments division at G&D. “Our high-performance Java Card solutions, such as the one employed by SecuRead, are tailored to the specific needs of markets with the highest security requirements such as payment, transit, access control and other mobile applications.”

INSIDE’s SecuRead solution is pre-integrated with INSIDE’s Open NFC, a commercial-grade NFC protocol stack that runs on the application or baseband processor to control SecuRead operation.

Open NFC version 3.5 software and source code is available at no cost in Android, Windows Mobile, Linux and Java (JSR-257) editions with API documentation on SourceForge.net. INSIDE also offers a comprehensive suite of NFC payment, transit, loyalty, and access control and identity applets to run on SecuRead, including support for HID iCLASS virtual credentials.

“The new SecuRead best-of-breed solution is the fastest path to implementing iCLASS virtual credentials in NFC mobile phones,” said Dr. Tam Hulusi, senior vice president at HID Global. “Through our longstanding partnership with INSIDE, iCLASS support is now a standard feature of SecuRead. For users looking to put iCLASS virtual credentials on mobile phones, this is great news.”

Engineering samples of the INSIDE Contactless SecuRead system-in-package secure NFC solution will be available in December, with production quantities available in April 2011.