ANN ARBOR—Schlumberger and the University of Michigan’s Center for Information Technology Integration (CITI) today announced a joint partnership Program in Smart Card Technology. The program emphasizes research and development of new and existing smart card technologies, including the investigation of using this technology for remote Internet services, electronic commerce, and access authorization. The main focus of the research will be on enhanced data security using smart cards.

Smart cards are wallet-sized cards that look like credit cards in size and material. They may have raised letters or numbers, photos, or logos much like credit cards. There is one key difference, however, the smart cards actually have tiny computers embedded in them.

Each smart card contains a microprocessor with electrical contacts—making it one of the world’s smallest portable computers. Smart cards are currently used around the world for enabling personal phone calls, credit/debit card transactions, satellite and cable TV, purchasing food or other items from vending machines, and retrieving personal information. The U-M currently issues a smart card manufactured by Schlumberger, called the “M-Card,” to each student, faculty, and staff member for identification purposes. While it is primarily used as a photo ID, the M-Card According to Peter Honeyman, director of CITI, there are many more possibilities for use of the smart card. “For the University community, smart cards hold the potential to simplify our environment by eliminating cash-handling and paperwork problems while at the same time improving security,” said Honeyman. “Because there are many more potential uses that require enhanced security, such as home banking, we are looking closely at authentication and authorization that ensure the owner of the smart card is actually the owner. One of our most important goals is to find ways to use smart cards to improve information security in enterprise-scale computing environments, and the U-M is a living laboratory for that kind of work.”

The Program in Smart Card Technology partnership combines the strengths of Schlumberger’s experience and knowledge in providing smart card-based solutions worldwide with CITI’s expertise in researching and developing the areas of security and smart card technologies. Both organizations have considerable hands-on experience with smart cards.

“We expect the partnership to combine practical experience and technical knowledge to create enhancements to smart card technologies that will result in better products for our customers,” said Paul Beverly, vice president, Marketing, Schlumberger Smart Cards & Terminals, North America. “It’s exciting to recognize that the research being done in this program can potentially change the way that business is done in the future.”

“We are delighted that we have begun this relationship with Schlumberger,” said Jose-Marie Griffiths, U-M’s chief information officer. “I’m certain that it will develop into a long-term mutually beneficial alliance.”

Representatives from Schlumberger and the U-M celebrated the partnership program at a reception in Ann Arbor. The program awards an unspecified dollar amount to CITI for the project period, and sponsors specific projects that promote the joint goals of the University and Schlumberger.

ABOUT SCHLUMBERGER

Schlumberger Smart Cards and Terminals is the leading provider of Smart Card-based solutions worldwide, shaping the new world of smart solutions by providing leading-edge technology to enable innovative smart card and terminal applications that enhance the security and convenience of businesses and communities of all kinds. Schlumberger smart card solutions encompass a wide range of cards, terminals, development tools and support in open configurations for operators, developers, integrators and distributors worldwide. As part of the Smart Village, the Schlumberger offer includes the milestone Cyberflex card, the industry’s first Java-based smart card. The Smart Cards & Terminals group operates 45 facilities in 34 countries across the globe. Additional information is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.slb.com/media/services/software/whitepaper/whitepaper_smartcard.pdf

Schlumberger Test & Transactions comprises Schlumberger Smart Card & Terminals and Schlumberger Automated Test Equipment, leveraging the combined strengths of these two business units to provide leading-edge, cost-effective solutions to customers. Schlumberger Test & Transactions is a business unit of Schlumberger Limited, an $11.8 billion global technology service company providing oilfield services, natural resources management, transactions-based technology and associated systems, and semiconductor test equipment.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

The Center for Information Technology Integration (CITI) is an applied research and development center at the University of Michigan established by the Regents in 1986. Its purpose is to engage in advanced development and research projects, in partnership with external sponsors, that will enhance the U-M’s information technology environment; and then transfer the results to industry, government, and educational organizations.

Partnering with business and industry to investigate new computing technologies is part of CITI’s history. With a focus on research and development, CITI draws businesses interested in acquiring information about the latest in computing. These partnerships enhance CITI’s ability to broaden technological horizons while providing its partners a vendor-neutral environment in which to experiment.

CITI researchers investigate a variety of areas related to Internet security, smart card technology, client/server technology, open systems, and distributed computing environments. It recruits and employs a talented staff of researchers and analysts that include graduate research assistants from the University’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The students gain hands-on experience while researching exciting new computing concepts. CITI in turn profits from the brightest minds testing and developing information technology concepts.

For more information about CITI and its projects, access the Web at: http://www.citi.umich.edu/

Cyberflex is a Trademark of Schlumberger.

Java is a Trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Smart Village is a registered trademark of Schlumberger.

http://www.slb.com/media/services/software/whitepaper/whitepaper_smartcard.pdfRegentsDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciencehttp://www.citi.umich.edu/