'India represents a tremendous growth opportunity for us'

Which way is the SIM card technology moving?

As Indian operators engage in an increasing more competitive market, the
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card remains the single strongest link between
operators and their subscribers.  SIM
provides the simple and fundamental connection over which sophisticated services
can be developed and deployed. The overall driver for SIM technology is the
increasing need for personal, secure, and convenient solutions, which is
addressed by the sophistication that microprocessor cards offer.Â
According to Frost&Sullivan, total SIM unit shipments in India are
expected to reach 58 mn in by the end of 2005 and Axalto's strong leadership
as the world's number one provider of microprocessor cards simply reinforces
our well-placed position to ride on this wave of SIM growth in India. 

What more value/features can mobile subscribers expect
in the near future?

India represents a tremendous growth opportunity for us as smart cards
continue to transform business efficiencies-from personalising services for
mobile communications users, securing banking transactions, and services,
enhancing access to corporate networks, and protection of privacy and
identification across public sector services. Consumer demand for content and
the convenience of m-commerce, m-banking, and real-time data via mobile phones
means finding fast and secure ways to deliver value added services across
operators mobile communications network. 

For us the point is not to pack more and more features into
a mobile phone, but instead to increase brand loyalty for our customers-the
mobile operators, and in turn enhance user experience for their subscribers.

What kind of technologies is Axalto working on?

It has always been Axalto's position not only to manufacture smart cards,
but also to advance the underlying technology.

A great example of this is our work in Java SIM Card
development - in 1996, Axalto pioneered the Java Card, which gave operators a
competent and flexible application platform to deliver compelling services to
customers.  Java technology is
quickly becoming the preferred platform for SIM cards because it is highly
secure and supports open standards. This translates to shorter application
development cycle where one application created on the Java platform can be used
on a variety of Java SIM cards.  There
are currently more than 500 Java applications developed on Java SIM cards
worldwide, with about 150 new applications expected to be added yearly.

As the pioneer of the Java SIM card, Axalto not only
designs, develops, and deploys wireless applications, but also actively equips
and educates independent application developers through the SIMagine program,
which includes an international SIMagine Contest for third party developers.
Since the introduction of SIMagine in India two years ago, there have been a
good number of interesting applications submitted from students as well as
professional developers. Of the 300 projects received for SIMagine 2005, Bharti
Telesoft clinched the Silver Award for its PreTUPS application, which is also
being commercially deployed today.

Axalto also works with operators to develop encourage the
development of in-country development expertise. In June last year for example,
Axalto and Maxis announced the launch of the MDP SIMagine Programme. Part of
Maxis Developer Programme (MDP), MDP SIMagine is a world's first collaboration
of its kind, aimed at providing local mobile content and application developers
with skills and technology know-how to tap into the fast growing global Java SIM
market. Malaysian developers can thus become the source for commercial Java SIM
application supply locally, while building a platform for Malaysian Java SIM
application developers to gain international exposure.

Axalto customers worldwide have deployed many thousands of
applications. Subscribers and cardholders apply our microprocessor cards which
are like tiny, super-portable computers to tasks as diverse as controlling auto
expenses for fleet vehicles in Morocco, offline debit cards in Latvia, word
games on mobile phones in Malaysia and organizing driving licenses and vehicle
registration documents for India's nationwide transport smart card operating
system, Smart Card Operating System for Transport Application (SCOSTA).

What kind of market presence do you have in India?

We have a presence that is appropriate and allows us to take advantage of
the opportunities this market presents. India represents a tremendous growth
opportunity for us, as smart cards continue to transform business
efficiencies-from personalising services for mobile communications users,
securing banking transactions, and services, enhancing access to corporate
networks, and protection of privacy and identification across public sector
services. As reported by COAI, there are more than 70 mn mobile subscribers in
India as of December 2005, and research analyst In-Stat estimates India to be
the fastest growing mobile communications market in Asia, with a 32.8% CAGR. The
well-established presence of Axalto offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore,
backed by our local production and technical development facilities, further
supported by our extensive global network well positions. We are excited about
the prospects abounding in the Indian market and look forward to 2006 with
anticipation.

Ravi Shekhar Pandey

vadmail@cybermedia.co.in