Gemplus and Texas Instrument Collaborate to expand smart card reader technology

Industry leaders join to promote smart card infrastructure worldwide

 New GemCore based CardBus controllers will provide built-in smart card reader technology for notebook and desktop computers
 Smart card adds new capabilities and new level of security to applications including secure data exchange and PC log-on, on-line shopping and e-banking
 New devices represent widespread deployment of smart card infrastructure in response to market demand

WinHEC Conference, Seattle, Wash., April 12, 2002 – Gemplus, the world's leading provider of smart card solutions, and Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), today announced they have entered into a technology license agreement to provide smart card reader functionality to notebook and desktop computers. Todays announcement is expected to help build the infrastructure necessary for the rising demand for electronic commerce, network security and other PC-based smart card applications and services.
As part of the technology license agreement, TI will integrate Gemplus GemCore smart card interface into its UltraMedia CardBus controller devices, providing a new generation of CardBus products with built-in smart card functionality and EMV level 1, PC/SC and Microsofts (MSFT) WHQL compliance. EMV is a standard from Europay International, MasterCard and Visa, which ensures compatibility between payment systems.
"Incorporating smart card reader technology into desktop and notebook
computers is an important step to help build the infrastructure necessary for secure information exchange," said Shalini Chowdhary, senior industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan. "The collaboration between Gemplus and Texas Instruments, both leaders in their respective industries, provides a valuable solution for PC manufacturers whose users require optimal security, convenience and flexibility when doing business on the Internet."
"With the help of Gemplus leading edge technology and support, our next generation of UltraMedia products will enable PC users to do business and perform transactions over the Internet with increased security, convenience and confidence," said Julie Holland, director of TIs Connectivity Solutions group. "By working with Gemplus, we are able to offer our customers tremendous savings, ease-of-use and instant access to the inherent benefits of smart card technology, which we believe is poised for tremendous growth in the near future due to the need for more security and privacy."
With more than one billion smart cards shipped in 2000, a figure expected to rise to above three billion by 2004 , smart card technology is quickly getting into the hands of many people worldwide. By integrating GemCore into CardBus products, PC manufacturers will be able to offer users a simple and immediate way to use smart card technology for secure on-line shopping, Internet banking, network ID and data security.
"We believe that embedding the smart card readers into notebook and desktop computers will further enable the quick and easy mass adoption and implementation of smart cards," said Alexandre Lorenzi, Smart Card Interfaces director at Gemplus. "TIs technical leadership, excellent customer support and experience in this market will enable Gemplus to build the reader infrastructure needed to meet the growing demand and issuance of smart cards worldwide."

Meet Gemplus at WinHEC 2002 Seattle, Wash., April 16-18, in Texas Instruments booth # 201.

About GemCore
GemCore solutions enable electronics OEM and OED to develop and integrate, in a flash, low-cost smart card reader interfaces for high-volume use in a wide range of devices including computers, keyboards, personal digital assistants, set-top-boxes, Internet Appliances, Point-of-Sales terminals, telephones and vending machines. Including Certification and Integration Support Services, GemCore offer allows customers to avoid long and costly development phases and leads to faster time-to-market. Compliant with all major industrial and banking standards (including EMV – Europay MasterCard Visa - PC/SC and WHQL), GemCore based-interfaces are made functional right from the integration phase and can communicate with any kind of smart card on the market.
With more than 5,000,000 units shipped and best-in-class references, GemCore is the world leading technology for smart and secure card interfaces.
About Gemplus
Gemplus helps its clients offer an exceptional range of portable, personalized solutions that bring security and convenience to people's lives. These include mobile Internet access, inter-operable banking facilities, e-commerce and a wealth of other applications.
Gemplus is the only completely dedicated, truly global player in the Smart Card industry, with the largest R&D team, unrivalled experience, and an outstanding track record of technological innovation.
In 2001, Gemplus was the world number one in smart card shipments according to Gartner-Dataquest, IDC, Frost and Sullivan, Datamonitor and The Nilson Report.
Gemplus trades its shares on Euronext Paris S.A. First Market and on the NASDAQ Stock Market as GEMP in the form of ADSs. Its revenue in 2001 was 1.0 billion Euros.
Gemplus: Beyond Smart www.gemplus.com
About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.
Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com .

©2002 Gemplus All rights reserved. Gemplus, the Gemplus logo and GemCore are the trademarks and service marks of Gemplus and may be registered in certain countries. All other trademarks and service marks, whether registered or not in specific countries, are the property of their respective owners.
For further information, contact:
Gemplus                   Texas Instruments
Marielle Bricman               Tracy Sickles
Global Press Relations Manager            TI Media Relations
Tel: +33 4 42 36 55 96               Tel: +1 214 480 7487
Email: marielle.bricman@gemplus.com         E-mail: t-sickles1@ti.com

Alicia Jones                  Jennifer Odom
Edelman Public Relations Worldwide         Golin/Harris International
Tel: +1 323 202 1047               Tel: +1 972 308 914
Email: alicia.jones@edelman.com         Email: jodom@golinharris.com