Gemplus Announces SIMple, Personal SIM Card Manager

Business Wire, March 20, 1997

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 1997--

Laptop-Based Software Provides Easy Subscriber Access

To Services and Subscription Personalization

Gemplus Corporation, the leading supplier of SIM cards to the U.S. PCS market, today announced the availability of SIMple, software that enables GSM subscribers to personally manage their SIM card-based services through a user-friendly Windows interface using a laptop computer.

SIMple makes it possible for GSM subscribers to better manage and control their mobile telephone subscription. It is user-friendly, multi-standard software that interoperates with all GSM-compliant cards and supports the ISO and plug-in formats. SIMple runs Windows 95-based laptops that have a PCMCIA card reader. The reader acts as a PCMCIA interface, allowing the subscriber's card to exchange information with the laptop.

"In the increasingly competitive mobile telephony market, network operators are looking for new ways to differentiate themselves," said Philippe Martineau, director of Gemplus' telecommunications business unit, Americas. "SIMple makes it possible for these operators to differentiate their services by market segment and to broaden the scope of their service offerings."

Pricing and Availability

SIMple is currently available. Pricing depends on volume. It runs on any laptop running Windows 95, and requires the PC Card (PCMCIA Type II) card reader. No batteries, external power supply or additional cable are required.

Gemplus Group, Gemplus Corporation's parent company, is the world's leading producer of plastic and smart cards. It manufactures and sells memory cards, microprocessor cards (both contact and contactless), magnetic stripe cards, as well as electronic tags. It also designs and markets software, terminals and systems; and provides personalization, consultancy and training services to offer its customers comprehensive solutions.

In 1996, Gemplus Group's total sales were $440 million. By the end of 1997, the company will have a production capacity of 900 million plastic and smart cards.

Gemplus sells its products worldwide for such applications as public and cellular telephony, financial transactions, loyalty, transportation, education, healthcare, gaming, identity, access control, pay TV, security for computer networks and electronic commerce. Information about Gemplus' products and services can be found on the World Wide Web at: http://www.gemplus.com. -0-

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CONTACT: Dr. Patricia Neptune

Neptune Group International Inc.

(203) 221-2820

or pneptune@neptunegp.com