ASK launches TanGO at Cartes 2004, a universal contactless platform

ASK launches TanGO at Cartes 2004, a universal contactless platform

TanGO helps operators turn smoothly to multi-application

Paris, October 26, 2004–ASK introduces TanGO a flexible Operating System for a new range of contact/contactless smart cards. TanGO addresses mass transit, access control and banking markets. It has been optimized to meet the three main requirements of contactless applications: speed, security and flexibility.

TanGO is already available for dual interface and contactless cards. TanGO is compliant with ISO14443 type A and type B standard, it implements ISO7816-4 set of commands. This operating system was designed to adapt to any microprocessor chip. TanGO has already been implemented on ST, ATMEL and PHILIPS chips. TanGO cards exist with an E_Prom memory size of 0.5, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 Kbytes.

TanGO is the universal answer to mass transit market requirement adaptable to any regional standards, Calypso, RIS, VDV Core, ITSO, RKF …

Speed and security

Speed of transaction is essential in mass transit. Market studies and experience have driven ASK to design an application with the shortest transaction time thus increasing the level of security. Comparison with existing dual interface cards shows that TanGO innovative features enable to decrease the transaction time by 20%.

Security features combine an anti-tearing and fast cryptographic calculation based on a DES, DESX or 3DES mechanism. All chips selected to support TanGO plat-form integrate a hardware crypto-processor. A cryptographic contactless signature performs simultaneously the authentication of the card, the authentication of the terminal, the authentication of all the data exchanged during the transaction and the proof that the card modifications have been completed correctly. To provide this high level of security, ASK has developed the associated SAM that allows the mutual authentication between cards and readers.

Flexibility and customized file structure for true interoperability and multi-application

TanGO can clone the legacy cards such as GTML, GTML2 and CD97 to perpetuate existing systems as well as provide the right path to new features.

A flexible file structure allows operators to optimize the card files for their application. Thanks to its native operating system, all memory is available for customer files and data. For mass transit application, the advance security mechanism authorizes several transport authorities to share the same media, each authority having its own set of secret keys and thus accessing the common contract. This feature allows moving smoothly to true regional interoperability.

But the main asset of TanGO relies on its customizable file structure for multi-application purpose since new directories and files can be created after issuance of the card. A customer can then start with transport ticketing only and embark new applications as the system is spreading throughout the city with loyalty schemes, access control, e-purse and other citizen applications.

On customer demand, ASK can implement new functions and new commands within the TanGO plat-form to design cards that meet customer specific environment. Such implementation has already been done in the field of banking application.

About ASK:

Founded in 1997, ASK is today the leading supplier of a comprehensive range of contactless cards, tickets, RFID tags and readers, complying with ISO and EPC standards. They address the mass transit, access control and e-government ID markets as well as the supply chain and logistics market. 50 million RFID cards, tickets and labels are already in use worldwide. Manufacturing is located in Sophia-Antipolis, France. Local offices are based in Paris, Singapore, Taiwan and Westport, USA.