Radicchio.org is the standards group (radicchio.com sells lettuce:-)
Their web page is mostly under construction, but it's got a decent
article on public-key infrastructures, and announces a conference
"Wireless e-commerce: Clearing the Road for Global Expansion",
13-14 January 2000, Kensington Olympia Conference Centre, London, England.
The main contact person is [EMAIL PROTECTED]
It's interesting to note that the EDS person has a non-US address.
Depending on the objectives of the group, this could end up as
an open standard with good input from the cryptographic community,
or as yet another broken proprietary system waiting for Ian Goldberg
or Bruce Schneier to crack over lunch :-) The web page looks positive, at
least.
http://www.psd-design.co.uk/radicchio/pages/pki.html
Bill Stewart
Here's a short article from Total Telecom.
====================================================================
EDS (US), computer services group, Gemplus (France), smart card maker,
Ericsson (Sweden) and Sonera, formerly Telecom Finland,
have formed Radicchio, a new forum which will promote common PKI standards for
mobile phone security.
The new encryption technology can be built into silicon chips used in GSM
mobile phones. The partners are looking to recruit forum members from industry
and govts.
According to Joseph Krull, UK vice-president of security at Sonera,
the forum will be on its way to establishing a global standard if it
can attract 50 members by January 2000.
The mobile commerce market is expected by analysts to be worth USDlr66 bil
by 2003.
==================================================
Here's their press release
===========================================
SONERA, GEMPLUS AND EDS LAUNCH GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO
PROMOTE SECURE MOBILE COMMERCE
…Radicchio initiative will open the floodgates for mobile commerce
worldwide...
London, 27 September 1999. Sonera SmartTrust, a business unit of Sonera
Ltd., international forerunner in mobile, data and media communications,
Gemplus and EDS (Electronic Data Systems), today announced that they are
founding members of a global initiative to define a standard security platform
for mobile e-commerce. Called Radicchio, the initiative will promote the
use of
an environment based on a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), allowing secure
electronic transactions to take place over mobile networks. There are now
more mobile phones in use worldwide than PCs, and analysts predict that the
market for mobile
commerce will be worth $66bn by 2003 .
Mobile commerce is being made possible by new technologies that allow
mobile phones and other handheld devices to access the Internet. This creates
a vast new potential channel for e-commerce. By 2003, there will be over 800
million Web-enabled mobile phones in use worldwide, by 2004 there will be
more handsets than televisions . To allay companies’ fears about the security
of mobile commerce, Sonera SmartTrust has developed a PKI-based
framework that provides a highly secure environment for financial transactions
and information exchange.
The Radicchio initiative seeks to promote the use of this framework among
certification authorities, mobile operators, systems integrators, device
manufacturers and financial institutions. This will ensure that as mobile
commerce grows, there will be a standard security platform upon which all
mobile commerce software, services and devices can be based. Another key
aim is to persuade governments, government bodies and regulators to take the
framework into account when drawing up new e-commerce legislation or
guidelines.
"E-services like Internet banking and online share dealing are already
possible
on mobile phones, but one of the main things holding organisations back from
offering them is concern about the security of their data and their customers’
data," said Harri Vatanen, Senior Vice President, Head of Sonera SmartTrust.
"Through the Radicchio initiative we aim to help companies and customers
understand that the technology exists to make mobile commerce transactions
just as secure as any that happen in the physical world."
Radicchio is now looking to recruit further members from industry and
government to increase its global reach and promote the use of PKI-based
mobile commerce among financial institutions and other industry sectors
leading the way into this new commercial medium. Amongst others, Ericsson
is lending its support to the Radicchio initiative.
About Radicchio
Radicchio is a global initiative formed in September 1999 with Sonera
SmartTrust, EDS, and Gemplus as its first members. Its aim is to define and
promote a standard security platform for mobile commerce based on a public
key infrastructure.
About Sonera
Sonera Ltd. is an international forerunner in mobile, data and media
communications. Sonera is Finland´s leading telecommunications company
with subsidiaries and associated companies in 14 countries. In 1998, Sonera´s
revenues amounted to USD 1.9 billion and the profit before extraordinary items
and taxes USD 404 million. The Group employs approximately 9000 people.
Sonera SmartTrust, a business unit of Sonera, is a global leader in mobile
e-commerce services and platforms based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
Information about Sonera can be found on the Internet at http://www.sonera.fi
and http://sonera.fi/smarttrust.
About Gemplus
Information about Gemplus can be found on the Internet at
http://www.gemplus.com
About EDS
Information about EDS can be found on the Internet at http://www.eds.com
CONTACT
Sonera SmartTrust
Mr. Joe Krull
Vice President
Tel. +358 40 760 0766
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Gemplus
Tim Baker
Wireless Marketing Communication Manager
Tel. +33 6 8593 4134
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
EDS
Karen Feenstra
Director Strategy, Business Development and Marketing
Tel. +39 335 596 8948
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ericsson
Antoinette Torell
Press Officer, Ericsson Corporate Communications
Tel. +46 7051 93699
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Louise Kjellerup
Hill & Knowlton
Tel : +44 (0)171 43 3339/ 07887 634562
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Thanks!
Bill
Bill Stewart, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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