Oberthur Card Systems is to expand its AuthentIC smart card management capabiliites and improve security using technology from UK software house Intercede Group.
The company's Edefice security and smart card management system will be integrated into Oberthur's suite of smart card products.
Marc Bertin, director of e-commerce at Oberthur Card Systems, says: "Edefice technology will enable our large banking and corporate customers to manage the entire lifecycle of their smart card and PKI infrastructures using a simple to use, business process oriented interface."
According to Gartner, by 2004 there will be 169 million smart cards in circulation for network security purposes, representing a 10-fold growth rate over the next three years. Intercede and Oberthur believe that at least 50 per cent of all network security smart cards will be under the control of a smart card management system.
Edefice, through its Web-based interface allows any PC with a browser to be used for smart card management, eliminating the need for cumbersome centralised smart card issuing stations, say the companies.