The company is "jumping out of the box" to put wireless application protocol (WAP) on the global commerce map with its SIM Wireless Identity Module (WIM) smart card, the Simera e-motion.
Built on Java script, the company claimed it is the first SIM WIM with ROM that is compliant with WAP 1.2.1/WTLS (WAP Transport Layer Security)/WIM specifications, thus providing more EEPROM space for customers and optimize performance.
According to Schlumberger's director for mobile communications Marcos Fernandez, combining the SIM WIM protocols enable all security-related functions to be protected by a tamper-proof smart card.
How protection works
"Currently, the transport security framework on WTLS only allows encrypted exchange and server authentication. With the SIM WIM smart card we are bringing the next level of security into the works--user authentication," Fernandez explains.
By using the smart card, sensitive part of WLTS--certificate authority, private and confidential user information, password and PIN numbers--on the WAP client side can now be delegated to the smart card, he added.
"At present, if a user makes a call, there is a possibility that someone could tap onto the WLTS network. But with the WIM technology on the smart card, it'll be very difficult to tap onto it as personal information now resides on the smart card and not directly to the phone," Fernandez explained.
Apart from WIM technology, Simera e-motion can also be embedded with a cryptographic processor and sufficient memory to store a number of certificates and their private keys.
Simera e-motion, however, is only available now as a protoype and the company hopes to deploy it in the fourth quarter this year.
What is holding WAP back?
Asked why the delay in the availability, Fernandez said whilst the sales of mobile handset is growing at an exponential rate, the fact remains that in order for WAP to take off, all parties have got to play their roles effectively.
Fernandez gave several prominent factors which in his view, are holding back the proliferation of WAP:
• Handsets are slow to come into the market. Limited availability of WAP handsets in the marketplace means slower uptake of WAP.
• Current operational speeds are less than inspirational. CSD (Circuit Switch Data) speeds are 9.6Kbps, High Speed CSD is 14.4Kbps and GPRS is up to 115Kbps.
• Industry in general is not "completely confident" in e-commerce. Infrastructure is deemed not "safe" for wireless commerce without WIM/PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).
• The m-commerce model is not ready. Most companies be it operators, handset makers, WAP content providers still do not have a m-commerce model in place especially one that can deal with security, the charges and the billing.
• Content is thin. As WAP is still text based content providers seem to be producing the same material. There is no differentiation in the services they offer.
• Cost of services. WAP is still commonly run on CSD which often incurs high service charges.
As an intermediary solution to the above issues, Schlumberger is offering Simera N@vigate to help push WAP content to a wider audience as it allows common Phase 2+ phones to access WAP content using SIM Alliance Toolkit (SAT) and SMS.
Simera N@vigate comprises three modules which Fernandez claimed are critical to enable non-WAP phones access to WAP services.
The three modules are: a gateway to the server box which sits on the operator side, a smart card browser and an SAT architecture.
"This product is developed to solve the handset and cost issues because widely available P2+ phones can use it and SMS is cheaper than CSD. On top of that, SAT translates WML (Wireless Mark-Up Language) into SAT bytes which are recognized by N@vigate," Fernandez said.
The company is also hoping to deploy Simera N@vigate by quarter four this year.
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