Nokia Signet Solution brings convenience and enhanced security to mobile e-commerce services

Nokia today introduced the new Nokia Signet Solution designed to support high security in mobile e-commerce applications, such as mobile payments and auctioning. Nokia Signet Solution includes the Nokia Signet Server for authentication and digital signatures and the Enrollment Manager for the on-line certificate enrollment. The new Nokia solution will be commercially available during the second quarter, 2001.

The Nokia Signet Solution supports the growing demand of the mobile e-commerce market for easy-to-use yet secure authentication and digital signature for non-repudiation. These requirements are fulfilled by using the Wireless Public Key Infrastructure, on which the security aspects of the WAP 1.2 specifications are built. Wireless PKI covers the infrastructure and the procedures required enabling authentication and digital signatures for servers and mobile clients. It is a certificate-based cryptographic system that utilizes key pairs (public, private) associated with each party.

The compliance of Nokia Signet Solution with PKI standards has been first verified with Entrust Technologies, Inc. Nokia Signet Solution supports WAP 1.2 compatible phones which include Wireless Identity Module (WIM), the tamper resistant module for private key storage and crypto operations.

"Enhancing the security and further improving the user friendliness are key challenges to service providers entering the mobile e-commerce arena," said Heikki Heinaro, Director, Mobile Internet Applications, Nokia Networks, "Nokia Signet Solution provides mobile phone users with both convenience and security when handling various mobile transactions and information from payments to highly confidental data on the move. In addition, our solution is based on the work done in the WAP Forum ™."

With Nokia Signet Solution the access to mobile e-commerce services or the confirmation of transactions is executed by entering the user’s PIN code that activates the security keys from the chipcard inside the phone. The user does not have to remember multiple difficult access codes or carry complicated username and password lists. Also with the similar way to credit cards, if the phone gets lost, the chipcard can be de-activated instantly.

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

Further information:

Communications Department
Nokia Networks
Tel. +358 07180 38195
Email: nokia.networks@nokia.com

www.nokia.com