Aug 26, 2014

Test tool offers secure element testing across all markets

Montreal, QC – Industry association, GlobalPlatform, has qualified FIME's 'global' test tool, validating its ability to evaluate the functionality of secure elements (SEs) to support payment, telecom, and identity applications. The tool is available for SE providers, mobile network operators (MNOs), and handset manufacturers, to purchase for pre-certification development testing, and as part of FIME's laboratory testing service portfolio.

To expand the tool's capabilities, new GlobalPlatform test libraries have been added, including the Common Implementation Configuration, Secure Element Access Control, and Secure Element Configuration. Additionally, the tool is qualified to confirm SE compliance to specifications outlined by the payment systems, with further libraries to be confirmed in the coming months.

This news follows the tool's qualification by EMVCo in 2013 to verify that an SE has the required security and functionality to enable an end user to select their preferred payment application in a contactless environment. This functionality is outlined in EMVCo Application User Interface (AAUI) Proximity Payment System Environment (PPSE) Specification and represented a key milestone in bringing contactless mobile payments to market.

"These new GlobalPlatform qualifications are another step in the development of our Global tool's offering, and enables us to offer a single point of contact for any aspect of SE compliance," comments Stephanie El Rhomri, NFC & payments vendor business line manager at FIME. "With qualifications from EMVCo, GlobalPlatform, and a range of international payment systems, industry players can analyze how an application behaves on an SE in relation to a number of standards, all at once."

Kevin Gillick, executive director of GlobalPlatform, adds: "Testing is the cornerstone in the development of a strong, compliance-led ecosystem for secure mobile services. Hardware developers and service providers need the ability to confirm that applications can be deployed and managed in line with the relevant specifications, and that they will communicate appropriately once loaded to SEs. GlobalPlatform works closely with testing providers to further the widespread deployment of SEs and is delighted that FIME, which has been instrumental in the compliance programme, has achieved these qualifications."