Axalto Java Card Mchip4 approved by Mastercard International

Amsterdam, November 9, 2004 – Axalto, the world’s leader in microprocessor cards today announced that its M/Chip 4.0 application on Cyberflex Palmera™ cards has received the M/Chip 4.0 functional and security approval from MasterCard International.

Cyberflex Palmera™ cards are the first Java cards on which the MasterCard International M/Chip 4.0 functional and security approvals have been obtained. This achievement illustrates the technical excellence of Axalto and its commitment to deliver superior products to its clients.

“MasterCard M/Chip 4.0 is a highly flexible smart card application for credit and debit cards and MasterCard is pleased to have the application supported by leading vendors such as Axalto,” said Jan Lundequist, Vice President, Chip Product Management, MasterCard International. “Axalto’s Cyberflex Palmera cards offer MasterCard’s customers cutting-edge card technology for payment applications.”

“Receiving MasterCard M/Chip 4.0 approval is a new demonstration of Axalto’s commitment to offer high-end secure card products to the banks”, said Jean-Claude Perrin, Head of Banking and Loyalty Market Segment at Axalto. “MasterCard’s customers will fully benefit from Axalto’s comprehensive EMV capability, vast geographical presence and wide experience in deploying EMV smart card programs worldwide.”

About Axalto

Axalto (Euronext: NL0000400653 AXL) is the world’s leading provider of microprocessor cards (Gartner Dataquest 2004) — the key to digital networks — and a major supplier of point-of-sale terminals. Its 4500 employees come from 70 nationalities and serve customers in more than 100 countries, with worldwide sales reaching 3 billion smart cards to date. The company has 25 years’ experience in smart card innovation and leads its industry in security technology and open systems.

Axalto continuously creates new generations of products for use in a variety of applications in the telecommunications, finance, retail, transport, entertainment, healthcare, personal identification, information technology and public sector markets. Microprocessor cards provide convenience, security and privacy to public and private services operators, their customers and end users.

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For more information, please visit www.axalto.com

Emmanuelle Saby
Public Relations Manager
Axalto
Tel : +33 (0)1 46 00 71 04
Fax : +33 (0)1 46 00 67 13
Email : emmanuelle.saby@gemalto.com