Athena Smartcard Solutions boosts offering through the acquisition of Aspects Software Java Card activity

Tokyo- September 5^th, 2006: Athena Smartcard Solutions, smart card technology innovator and developer of the ASECard Crypto family of Enterprise and Government Identity solutions announces today the acquisition of Aspects Software’s smart card OS assets including the Aspects OS755 Java Card and development platforms. The OS755 Java Card product family includes innovative FIPS approved operating systems for Identity and multimedia (SD/MMC), Visa approved banking and GSM solutions. 

This move strengthens Athena’s smart card expertise, adding open platform products to its established line of cryptographic smart cards. The timing of the acquisition coincides with recent large scale project wins for Athena in the Enterprise, Financial and Government sectors and an increase in demand for the company’s leading Unified Badge solutions.  Athena will now be able to better support its customers from the expanded office network in the US and the UK, joining Athena’s offices in Japan and Israel and its world-wide distributor and partner network.

“The acquisition of the Aspects Java Card assets is an important step for Athena as we strive to continue and offer our customers the most advanced and secure smart ID solutions. Following the acquisition, our expanded team includes some of the industry most innovative and accomplished Java Card professionals and together with our experienced native OS and cryptographic middleware group we are able to answer the needs of the most demanding customers” commented Masaru Kosaka, Chairman, Athena.

The acquired technology is already integrated within the new ASECard Crypto J multi-application PKI smart card which will be available soon in contact and dual interface, ISO7816 and ISO 14443, versions.

About Athena Smartcard Solutions   

Athena Smartcard Solutions is a global smart card company offering a wide range of products and solutions for Government, Enterprise and Financial institutions. Athena's products include advanced smart card operating systems, cross-platform cryptographic middleware and innovative biometric and card management solutions as well as advanced smart card readers. Through the acquisition, Athena now offers FIPS and VISA certified Java Card solutions for ID and Finance on various smart card silicon and in a variety of form-factors.

Additional information is available at:  www.athena-scs.com.

Java and Java Card are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

ASECard Crypto and OS755 is a trademark of Athena Smartcard Solutions.