14 DAY TRIAL // The worldwide leading provider of digital security solutions Gemalto announced today the acquisition of Valimo Wireless Oy, a company well known all around the globe as a leader in mobile authentication. The two companies have been partners for the past five years, Gemalto stated, but the company hasn't disclosed the terms of the newly announced transaction.
Those who might not be familiar with Valimo should know that the company is the first one to have used two-channel, two-factor authentication based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which combines an over the air platform with a software client in the SIM so as to generate an electronic signature. The company offers mobile phone users the possibility to securely authenticate themselves, to sign documents or confirm transactions through the introduction of a PIN code or of a passphrase.
Juha Murtopuro, Valimo CEO, added, “The key ingredient in a successful mobile PKI launch is bringing together mobile operators, banks and governmental agencies. Going forward, Valimo will be able to leverage Gemalto’s customer relationships in these domains to successfully deploy mobile strong authentication. We are happy as we believe this combination will accelerate the much expected deployment of Mobile ID, including into new territories and new markets such as e-banking and governments services.”
The Valimo Mobile ID solution is meant to offer simple solutions when it comes to online banking, mobile payments, governmental services, and more. The company has been founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Valimo and Gemalto have worked together for “the largest mobile digital signature commercial roll-out to date,” both being chosen for the move by a major mobile operator in Turkey, with over 30 million subscribers.
Olivier Piou, chief executive officer, Gemalto, commented, “Mobile digital signature has been on the horizon for a few years and we believe that we have now reached a tipping point. Whether it is a high end smart phone or a more basic phone, the one digital object consumers always have with them is their mobile phone, and they clearly express their desire to use it more and more for convenience in their daily life. Enabling people to conveniently sign legally-valid transactions is opening up a whole range of new applications for the mobile, at the service of citizens.”