Thales e-Security and Intercede Work Together to Introduce Secure Authentication and ID Management System for Financial Transactions

Thales e-Security and Intercede announce a collaboration to introduce a Secure Authentication and ID Management system for Financial Transactions. This collaboration will provide the ability to combine multiple levels of authentication, privileges, and identities through a single middleware product using Intercede's edeficeTM identity management product and the Thales AssureTransactionTM advanced authentication server.

The user may select a range of authentication options, which suit the security demanded by the risk associated with the transaction, then manage and authenticate them through one central point, avoiding the need to implement and manage disparate systems, providing privacy, authentication, integrity, and non-repudiation on one platform.

Visitors to the Infosec Show in London will be able to see a demonstration of the integrated product suite on the Thales booth 424. The integration will demonstrate the use of the Thales WatchWord token, a WatchWord smart card with connected and unconnected readers, and various PKI certificates and Trust environments all of which are issued and managed by Intercede's edefice system.

Under this collaboration Thales will sell the resulting integrated offering as a Thales product displaying an "edefice enabled" logo. Prime commercial prospects will be from the Transaction Authentication market in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Intercede will have reciprocal rights to sell Thales enabled edefice via its international distribution network.

Intercede, Chief Executive, Richard Parris, said, "We are delighted to have the opportunity to extend the interoperability of the edefice identity management system to include support for the Thales range of e-Security products. As a leading provider of transaction security products, Thales provides Intercede with a number of exciting new channels to market".

Phil Naybour, Managing Director Thales e-Security, said: "Thales transaction security products are the core components of our global offering for end-to-end security to major financial institutions. Edefice enhances this core platform by adding comprehensive identity management capability to the THALES range of security devices and advanced authentication server."

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About Intercede
Intercede Group plc is a leading developer and supplier of digital identity management software and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (IGP LN) (IGP.L). Intercede's edefice™ provides OEM partners, service providers and end-user organizations with the tools required to quickly deploy, maintain and manage smart cards, hardware and software tokens, biometrics, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology, applets and other digital credentials. Intercede's customers cover a range of industries and include ActivCard, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank, Colt Telecommunications, Datakey, Dexia Bank, Fujitsu Services, Lloyds TSB, the NHS and a number of US Federal Government agencies.

For more information, visit Intercede's home page at http://www.intercedegroup.com/ or call +44 (0) 1455 558 111.

About Thales and e-Security
Thales is a world leader and front-runner in professional electronics in three key markets: Aerospace, Defense and Information Technology & Services (IT & S). The Group employs 60,000 people in nearly 50 countries worldwide, and generated revenues of over €11 billion in 2002.

Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment and network security, Thales e-Security addresses the business, government and finance industry's need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. For more than 20 years the company has been at the forefront of security and payment technology, co-operating and contributing to set the industry standards used for financial transactions and e-commerce globally. Thales e-Security offers a wide range of security solutions to protect Government and Defense critical information infrastructures, thereby positioning the company as a leading worldwide supplier of certified network security products. Visit Thales e-Security on the Web http://www.thales-esecurity.com/

About Thales in e-Security
Thales, one of the globe's leading suppliers of integrated security solutions, addresses the business security needs of corporations and governments alike, protecting transactions, networks, identification documents and sensitive sites. Thales' security capability extends to security and payment technology for financial transactions, networks and e-commerce. An acknowledged expert in smart card technology and applications, Thales is a European leader in security critical electronic payments, integrated Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT), e-purse payment and secured keyboards, as well as being the UK's leading supplier of electronic card payment terminals.

Notes
The full commercial basis of this relationship is subject to on going negotiation and market testing.

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