Utimaco Safeware teams up with Setec Group, the expert in national ID smartcards

Oberursel, Germany (ots/PROTEXT)- Utimaco Safeware has enteredinto a partnership with Setec Oy, a renowned European smartcardmanufacturer. The partnership between Setec and Utimaco Safewareis the natural result of previous co-operation in new markets inAsia and Eastern Europe and Utimaco Safeware's commitment tosupply PKA or public key enabled applications that work with theFinnish and Swedish ID cards. The partnership creates a synergybetween the complementary product ranges of both companies andgenerates new possibilities in emerging markets and businessfields. As a first result of this partnership Utimaco Safeware willvery soon present SafeGuard Advanced Security and SafeGuardSign&Crypt, two popular PC and workgroup security products thatwork with Setec's implementation of the Finnish and Swedish IDcards. Utimaco Safeware and Setec also share a common commitmentto make their solutions fit for Identrus, a global B2Benvironment founded by major banks in Asia, Europe and NorthAmerica. Utimaco Safeware's digital signature solution for theInternet also benefits from Setec's unique offer of PKI enabledEMV banking cards. Norbert Pohlmann, Member of the Board of Utimaco Safewareconsiders Setec to be an increasingly important partner in thenear future: "Utimaco Safeware and Setec are both investing inthe booming market of security technology for mobile devices.Setec recently announced it's GSM SIM chip with digital signaturefunctionality. This technology is essential for the new solutionswe are working on like using wireless handhelds for signing allsorts of transactions or using your GSM as a secure token to logon to the company's network." Utimaco Safeware and Setec will train each other's salesforces in Europe and Asia in order to realize further joinedcustomer projects. The synergy between the companies will be animportant advantage in anticipation of ever more EU countriespreparing to introduce ID smartcards to their citizens. www.utimaco.com Utimaco Safeware AG is the leading European manufacturer ofcertified IT security solutions for professional use. Utimacodevelops and sells integrated security solutions based onestablished standards for the following areas: mobile/desktopsecurity and internet security. www.setec.fi Setec is a leading provider of smart card based solutions forsecure electronic transactions in open networks. Setec focuses onhigh-end smart cards with enhanced security, such as the PKI. Thegroup is operating on a global basis with leading telecomoperators, banks and public authorities as the major customersegments. Setec Group has operations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark,Poland, Singapore and Thailand. The turnover of the year 2000amounted to EUR 51,8 million and the company employed 450 people. For further information: Utimaco Safeware AG www.utimaco.com Press Office Jutta Stolp jutta.stolp@utimaco.de Fon +49 (0 61 71) 9 17-2 03 Fax +49 (0 61 71) 9 17-1 12

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