Date: 08/12/2010

Infineon and NXP enhance their security ID chips with tech upgrade

Infineon Technologies AG has introduced 90nm Flash memory in its ID chips targeting applications such as payment, government ID, high-end mobile communications and transport. Praising its ability to sold three billion chip card devices using EEPROM/Flash-based non-volatile memory, Infineon boasts about its flash memory tech named 'SOLID FLASH' which are EMVCo and Common Criteria EAL 5+ (high) certified.

The advantages of SOLID FLASH over ROM include, fast and easy prototyping, easy code change, faster lead times for chip production, increase of mask cost while migrating to lower geometry and easy inventory management, this is as listed by Infineon. SOLID FLASH-based products are expected in 2011.

NXP Semiconductors has enhanced its ranges of security algorithms used in electronic ID application chips applying its new architecture called IntegralSecurity. The new MCU family SmartMX2 targets id cards applications such as eGovernment, banking, PayTV, mobile transactions, public transport, access management and device authentication.

NXP says major trend in identification today is the movement toward supporting multiple applications in a single secure smart card and in NFC-enabled mobile phones and quotes the examples of the new German national ID card, which can be used instead of a passport when traveling within Europe, and also facilitates secure online transactions. Another example is the Taiwan's Easy Card which unifies functions including public transport ticketing, micro-payments, event ticketing and student ID. Further, NFC-enabled phones will provide consumers with a wide range of applications that enhance user convenience and security.

SmartMX2 delivers CPU and crypto performance - on both contact and contactless interfaces - that is up to 5.7x faster than its highest performing SmartMX predecessor, while consuming less energy as claimed by NXP.
Enhanced memory options for ROM, RAM, EEPROM and FLASH, supports NXP's MIFARE technology - including MIFARE DESFire, MIFARE Plus and MIFARE Classic.

Both Infineon and NXP have displayed ID tech at CARTES, France.