RFinity Set to Launch Pilot of the World’s First Open Encryption Platform at Brigham Young University-Idaho

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RFinity, a technology company specializing in secure Near Field Communication (NFC) identification and transactions, is preparing to launch a pilot of the world’s first open encryption platform using a secure microSD card with contactless interface developed by Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), an international security technology company. The pilot will begin September 4, 2009 on the campus of Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU-I).

“RFinity’s platform and G&D’s Mobile Security Card provide a secure environment that is the condition for trustworthy mobile payment transactions.”

“The RFinity pilot at BYU-I will be one of the first mobile contactless deployments that focuses on securing transactions in a way that reduces the risks associated with legacy payment systems. We appreciate BYU-I giving us the opportunity to work with their students, faculty and staff to ready our platform for launch and also recognize G&D’s support in developing the microSD hardware we are using for the Pilot,” said Aaron Turner, RFinity Co-founder and CEO. “Our cooperation with G&D enables RFinity to capture market opportunities globally.”

“Today’s mobile phones are not only used for communication, but also for information, navigation and entertainment. The next logical step is to turn it into an electronic purse,” says Dr. Kai Grassie, head of the New Business division at G&D. “RFinity’s platform and G&D’s Mobile Security Card provide a secure environment that is the condition for trustworthy mobile payment transactions.”

With RFinity’s patented integration platform and G&D’s hardware, BYU-I students will test—and consumers will soon have access to—the most secure, contactless identification and transaction system in the world that will allow them to reliably and securely make purchases using only their mobile phones.

“We hope RFinity and G&D have a successful pilot with us, and we’re anxious to see what benefits their new technology could potentially provide to our university,” said Andy Cargal, BYU-Idaho public relations representative.

RFinity’s open encryption platform will exceed financial industry standards for integrity and privacy and during the pilot will allow BYU-I students and faculty to make purchases at the university’s bookstore. These capabilities, developed by RFinity, serve as the foundation for the open encryption platform that will enable third-party developers to extend RFinity into a wide variety of industries. G&D developed the secure microSD card named “Mobile Security Card CL” (CL for Contactless). RFinity’s system requires the microSD card to operate using a mobile phone in this trial environment. The security feature in the Mobile Security Card CL is provided by a cryptography controller integrated in the microSD card along with the flash memory. The card is suitable for use in mobile phones, smart phones, netbooks and other mobile devices, and even in USB tokens.

RFinity, a recipient this year of the Research and Development 100 award, holds the world-wide exclusive license to this patent-pending technology, developed at the United States Department of Energy’s Idaho National Lab. RFinity’s technology attacks the weaknesses of security and transaction technologies adapted from the magnetic strip credit card industry, from NFC technologies designed for product tracking, and from mobile phone technologies that were initially not engineered for the level of security necessary for financial transactions.

About RFinity

RFinity offers an unparalleled, simple, elegant, and secure user experience and is dedicated to delivering a highly secure mobile transaction platform to enable users to conduct business in completely new ways while eliminating the security vulnerabilities of legacy transaction systems. RFinity’s dynamic cryptography allows you to use your mobile phone as a secure transaction device. For more information, visit RFinity’s Website at www.rfinity.com.

About G&D

Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is a leading international technology provider headquartered in Munich, Germany. With a headcount of around 10,000 employees, the Group generated sales of EUR 1.7 billion in fiscal 2008. Founded in 1852, G&D is a global market leader and pioneering innovator in banknote production and processing, smart card solutions for telecommunications and electronic payment, and security documents and identification systems. Forty-nine subsidiaries and joint ventures across more than 30 countries ensure customer proximity worldwide. For more information, visit our website at: www.gi-de.com.

About BYU-Idaho

Brigham Young University–Idaho is a four-year private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. The university, which is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offers baccalaureate and associate degrees, integrated degrees, and internships that are tailored to fit students' career interests; a year-round track system allowing more students to attend; and an extensive student activities program that provides unique leadership and growth experiences. It is the largest private university in Idaho, with an average enrollment of 12,000 students.