Bell ID has announced the launch of Bell ID® Trusted Service Manager, a versatile software platform that provides over-the-air (OTA) lifecycle management of applications, cryptographic keys and secure elements (SE) on near field communication (NFC) mobile devices. The solution assists mobile network operators, service providers (application issuers) and trusted third parties in executing complex Trusted Service Manager (TSM) services or the provisioning of applications onto mobile devices.
As the mobile payments industry transitions from small pilots to large-scale deployments, Bell ID has released its mobile token management solution specifically designed to meet the functional and commercial complexities of this ecosystem. The solution is positioned at the core of any mobile services implementation – regardless of technical and business partners – to perform the required data preparation and securely manage OTA the entire lifecycle of the SE, its associated applications and related cryptographic keys.
Drawing on its established token management expertise within the financial sector supporting global EMV technology and its credibility in the identity marketplace, Bell ID’s solution fully aligns with industry standards and can support global implementations. It is also form factor neutral, supporting the lifecycle of applications on any type of SE, including embedded SEs, UICCs and microSD cards.
David Orme, CEO at Bell ID, comments: “The solution meets a direct need in the marketplace as it is simple to use, secure, scalable and can be configured to connect with existing systems. We have already received an incredibly positive reaction to the product from a range of stakeholders, including handset manufacturers and MNOs wishing to offer mobile services to end-users through the management of applications on embedded SEs and UICCs respectively. In addition to this, there has been a high level of interest from vendors and other parties looking to become TSMs, such as personalization bureau.”
Bell ID has also been liaising with banks and payment services providers that would like to directly manage their mobile payment applications through the deployment of microSD cards. David adds: “There is a real attraction in being able to synchronize the management of payment applications residing on both EMV smart cards and mobile SEs. The Bell ID Trusted Service Manager can achieve this by integrating into legacy infrastructures to create one central application lifecycle platform.”
Looking to the future, David concludes: “Regardless of the deployment model adopted and the business relationships created, this is an emerging ecosystem and there are still a lot of unknown factors. The ability to securely update, personalize and manage applications OTA and be flexible to future requirements will be key to success.”
