Thales today announced the launch of its SafeSign mobile authentication solution in the Middle East. SafeSign, the award-winning multi-channel, multi-credential authentication platform, now enables organisations in the region to offer their customers a convenient and cost-effective way of authenticating their identity via a mobile phone helping to improve online security.

Thales’ SafeSign authentication solution has been enhanced by a recent technology partnership with Australian-based e-security firm, Salt Group which produces Mobile Token authentication technology. Thales’ agreement with Salt Group means that companies in the Middle East will be able to offer a range of mobile phone based authentication mechanisms to their customers such as SMS authentication tokens, MCode - cryptographic based one time passwords and challenge response tokens, or MSign - Salt Group’s unique hybrid transaction authentication token.

The opportunity for mobile authentication in the Middle East is huge since the region is one of the fastest growing wireless markets in the world. The Middle Eastern mobile market reached a new record in 2005, as 20.6 million new subscribers took up a cellular service, due largely to significant government policy shifts and economic growth (1). Coupled with the increase in the number of mobile subcribers, Internet usage grew in the region by over 454% between 2000 and 2005(2). As the Internet becomes a more mainstream tool for consumers, the need for online transaction security will continue to rise.

James Kilazoglou, Managing Director of Thales’ e-Security activities commented, “Whilst the Middle East may have traditionally been slower than the US and Western Europe to adopt technology, many of the region’s companies and banks have now significantly closed the gap. As online transactions really start to take off, the issue of identity management and authentication will become increasingly important. Furthermore, w ith mobile penetration reaching record levels in the region, Thales is well positioned, drawing on its strong experience in the Middle East , to work with local organisations to realise the business benefits of mobile authentication.”

Thales’ backing of Salt Group Mobile Tokens adds a significant capability to SafeSign’s already comprehensive authentication token support. SafeSign provides customers with a single, central authentication platform with the ability to authenticate users with different security and authentication requirements, ensuring that the most appropriate level of security is applied to transactions. SafeSign can authenticate users and transactions regardless of channel and for a range of identity solutions, including PKI certificates, one-time passwords and biometrics on smartcards, USB tokens, handheld tokens and mobile phones.

An integral part of Salt Group’s overall security offering, SafeSign can now authenticate transactions using any Salt Group Mobile Token, further increasing the solution’s flexibility and offering customers a cost-effective route to comprehensive online security and fraud reduction.

Thales will be exhibiting at stand number 32 at Cards Middle East in Dubai , 22nd – 23rd May, where you will be able to view a demonstration of Thales’ mobile authentication capabilities.

1. BIS Shrapnel research, Middle East Telecommunications, 2005 to 2010, Mr Wisam Francis

2. Internet World Stats, Usage and Population Statistics

About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. The group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Leveraging a global network of high-level researchers, Thales offers a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy critical information systems. Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of € 10.3 billion in 2005, with a record order book of over € 20 billion.

Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and network security, Thales’ e-Security activities address the business, government and finance industries’ need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world’s banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. For more than 25 years the company has been at the forefront of security and payment technology, co-operating and contributing to set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerce globally. Thales e-Security activities offer a wide range of security solutions to protect Government and Defence critical information infrastructures, thereby positioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified network security products.

Contacts
Sarah Milligan
Thales
+44 (0) 1844 204181
sarah.milligan@thales-esecurity.com

Scott McLean
Hotwire PR
+44 (0) 20 7608 4643
scott.mclean@hotwirepr.com