Khul Ja Sim Sim ...!

Over two billion smart cards are

expected to be in circulation world-wide by the year 2000. The booming smart cards

represent a vast and untapped source of opportunities for various businesses to take

advantage of. Similar in size and shape to a credit card, smart card stores and processes

information on a chip (i.e., an integrated circuit/microprocessor) embedded in the card.

Smart cards, with subscriber’s personal information like emergency health

information, even biometrics such as voice prints and fingerprints, and travel

preferences, are now extensively used for ATM/electronic cash, debit/credit payments,

information management, storage for medical/insurance information,

"frequent-user" points in loyalty programs, and a host of other useful

applications, with a far-reaching impact. Recognizing this, consortia of banks, credit

card companies, telecom operators, transit authorities, and even government bodies are

already developing smart card programs.

alt="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/vnd/media/post_attachments/15cafd8f37d1349117d5128a0cafcfa6fa2cf1f0c45f7f93eef1ba1b6b78db14.jpg (40709 bytes)" align="left" hspace="3" vspace="3"> face="Times New Roman" size="2">In a world moving towards one-to-one marketing, smart

cards hold the capability to customize and better serve the individual needs. Smart cards

also provide more privacy and security in electronic transactions–accessing payments

and information services. And unbeatable convenience!

SIM: Key To GSM Network face="Times New Roman" size="2">



The smart cards used in GSM cellphones are called SIM, i.e., Subscriber Identity Modules.
GSM technology brought about a revolutionary transition from analog non-smart card-based

mobile communication to a smart card-based digital one which enabled the subscriber to be

identified by his card and not by his cellphone. SIM card, when inserted into a cellphone,

acts as a "key" into the network, using a highly secure identification process.

There can be single application (only mobile usage) or multi-application cards (see box).

This application of smart card

has made the subscription and the cellphone independent of each other permitting the GSM

subscriber to move anywhere, even across nations (i.e., roaming), just with the card. It

also introduced network authentication process and a higher level of security through a

subscriber programmable Personal Identification Number (PIN). The International Mobile

Subscribers Identity (IMSI) is transmitted over the air which cannot be cloned, a major

problem with the analog networks. Also, the subscriber is authenticated through an

algorithm stored on the SIM card before a call is set up. Once the subscriber is

authenticated, speech, data, and control information are encrypted to ensure privacy, the

key for encryption algorithm being securely stored in the SIM. Also with the card

providing a new intelligent interface to the cellphone, additional services like Flexible

PIN Management, Abbreviated Dialing Numbers (ADN), and Advice-of-Charge could be provided.

New Developments face="Times New Roman" size="2">



With GSM Phase I and Phase II standards, SIM card worked as slave to the phone. However,
with Phase II+ standard, it, called "pro-active SIM", takes over as master,

because it can run its own applications and direct cellphone to perform certain actions.

Network operators are looking for

and requesting new service features all the time. Many more new features have been

included in the GSM Phase II+ and other developments are going on continuously. The

following are some of the new features.

Over-The-Air-Customization

(OTAC). This feature provides a means of updating the contents of SIM card via the

Short Message Service (SMS) without the need to send the cellphone to service centre for

reprogramming. This functionality enables

updating/reconfiguration/invalidating/rehabilitating of application data fields in the

card and adding/removing application(s) from the card by the operator. It allows more

powerful features like:

• Downloading of numbers to the
  
  mobile for abbreviated dialing.

• Remote recharging of pre-paid
  
  SIMs.

• Remote phone book loading.

• Adding new numbers to closed
  
  user group.

SIM Application Toolkit. It

permits SIM to send commands (received over the air) to the handset. An operator can

decide if and how to use the toolkit to add value to the service offered. Barclaycard

offer (discussed previously in this column) introduced jointly with Cellnet in the UK in

May 1997 was one of the first applications. The year 1998 can be truly called the year of

SIM toolkit. SIMs can store and run complementary applications like loyalty and

co-branding schemes.

The 3 Volt Specification. This

specification for SIM and cellphone is going to substantially reduce the size and weight

of the cellphone.

Bigger Memory. EEPROM has

grown from 3 kb in Phase I to 16 kb in Phase II+ and ROM from 6 kb in Phase I to 20 kb in

Phase II+.

Speed Enhancement. It is

being made possible by the introduction of larger chips with more storage capacity, which

increases the time taken to read all the data out of SIM. Therefore, a transmission speed

faster by about five or six times than the current one is being defined by GSM for SIM and

cellphone, though it may be optional.

Mutual Authentication. This

feature is being considered for future multi-application cards.

SIM Lock. It limits the use

of handset to one specific subscriber or a group of subscribers.

JavaCard. Java’s growing

popularity as secure, multi-application environment, and supporting applications

portability between compatible cards and downloading of applets over the network has led

to the development of JavaCard. This is an Application Programming Interface (API) to cut

the cost of application development and increase productivity.

There are many other features

possible:

• Pictorial languages (like
  
  Indian languages) for display.

• Service numbers: an additional
  
  SIM data field for an unchangeable number which allows the user or operator to store a
  
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• Barred numbers: a user can bar
  
  certain types of numbers like certain country/area codes or specific numbers (open to
  
  discussion).

GSM has truly exploited the

advantages of the smart card technology to help operators stay ahead smartly by service

differentiation and take advantage of affinity-co-branding programs using SIM.

It makes our lives far easier and more secure

than Alibaba could even think of!