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Data Authorized Cards for Only Certain Phones & Carrriers from SanDisk

By Glibert Shar 01/14/2009

Data Authorized Cards for Only Certain Phones & Carrriers from SanDisk

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.

Network operators can now freely distribute preloaded and 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.

SanDisk and LG Electronics have worked closely to implement this 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."