Hive Minded Delivers .NET-based Smart Cards

Plans Include Deployment of Hive Minded’s .NET implementation at Microsoft’s Redmond Campus

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — 16th November 2004 — As a part of Microsoft’s IT Forum’04, Hive Minded announced the first commercially available .NET-based smart cards. During Bill Gates’ keynote address, the cards were highlighted for utilizing the embedded .NET implementation developed by Hive Minded, Inc.

Hive Minded’s .NET implementation with its smart card partner Axalto (formally a division of Schlumberger), enables smart cards to help provide secure network access to Microsoft computer systems and facilities.

“Microsoft chose our .NET implementation to provide the needed capabilities for secure remote network access” said Tim Wilkinson, CEO of Hive Minded. “We’re delighted to be providing modern smart card solutions in the areas of identity and IT security.”

“Working from the ECMA Common Language Infrastructure specification, Hive Minded has done a great job bringing .NET technology to smart cards,” said Charles Fitzgerald, general manager of platform strategy at Microsoft. “We look forward to working with Hive Minded to facilitate a whole new generation of smart card solutions utilizing .NET.”

Hive Minded’s .NET implementation was independently developed using the specifications published by Microsoft through ECMA. It provides a compatible .NET implementation for smart cards, enabling developers and solution providers to leverage their current C# and Visual Basic skills and development tools for smart card development. As well as providing legacy smart card support, Hive Minded’s .NET implementation simplifies integration into the IT organization through its use of Microsoft’s standard tools and Windows’ communication protocols.

Hive Minded, Inc. was founded in 2002 with a specific goal in mind: to bring Microsoft .NET technology to a broad range of highly embedded devices. Based in the university town of Berkeley, California, Hive Minded continues the tradition of technological innovation and creativity for which the Bay Area is famous.