SanDisk Corporation has made a card that can only be used by certain phones and carriers.
In a demonstration, on the new LG KC910 Renoir, they demonstrated that content
preloaded in these cards can only be used in approved handsets. They say it marks the beginning of a new era in mobile phone service and content
distribution.
downloaded content on removable memory cards, while restricting the
accessibility of such premium content to only their network
subscribers. This valuable content protection service is made possible
by enabling memory cards to authenticate user credentials via data on
the SIM card.
new technology on the LG KC910 Renoir handset. SanDisk's unique
technology brings flexible storage-based services to network operators
by allowing IP connectivity to the memory card in the handset. The
memory card serves as a network node that is remotely manageable by the
operator using industry-standard TCP/IP and OMA Smart Card Web Server.
"With this advanced technology, handset manufacturers and MNOs will
be able to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of consumers who
want easy access to premium content on their mobile devices," said Amir
Lehr, senior director, business development, SanDisk. "The new LG KC910
Renoir highlights SanDisk's storage-based service delivery technology
that is designed to enhance an MNO's ability to facilitate content
usage in a flexible manner and lets service providers customize their
method of content distribution."
LG Electronics' quick adoption of new technologies like the OMA
SmartCard Web Server (SCWS) standard, allows the subscriber's SIM card
to be used as an authorization server. Frédéric Christophe, director
standard and engineering at LG Electronics European R&D center
said, "True to our commitment to provide the most advanced mobile
handset designs and user experience, LG Electronics is proud to pioneer
in the area of Smart Card Web Server implementations and to offer this
breakthrough storage-based service from SanDisk to the end-users, based
on the MNO secure element (the SIM card) and the mobile handset
interface and capabilities at their best."