Viaccess and Discretix Deliver an end-to-end mobile TV security solution based on the OMA BCAST Smartcard Profile standard

Based on OMA BCAST Smart Card Profile, the joint solution ensures reduced time to market, robust security and greater availability of handsets and services

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 2008 / BARCELONA, SPAIN — Viaccess, the European leader in conditional access and Discretix a leading provider of embedded security solutions for mobile devices and flash memory, today demonstrate an end-to-end mobile TV security solution, based on the OMA BCAST Smartcard profile standard.

The end-to-end solution includes the Viaccess purple-TV conditional access system and the Discretix Multi-Scheme Mobile TV Security client. The OMA BCAST Smartcard Profile protects Mobile TV services via the use of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card.

The cooperation will increase the availability of handsets and advanced multimedia services, by reducing development costs and time-to-market for handset manufacturers. The alliance will further promote the availability of standards-based mobile TV solutions eliminating the cost and complexity created by a multitude of proprietary solutions to be integrated in the mobile handsets.

Viaccess’s implementation of the standard inherits 10 years of broadcast experience, and enables various security mechanisms against piracy. Those security mechanisms are embedded in SIM cards and allow Viaccess to broadcast efficient counter-measures without having to wait for a new release of the standard and the associated upgrades that will made by card vendors. Those security counter-measures can be deployed through fully compliant OMA BCAST Smartcard profile handset and resolve the issue of providing an end to end security in a multi-sourced environment. Those security mechanisms do not prevent the operators from a multi-sourcing approach for SIM cards.

The Discretix Multi-Scheme Mobile TV Security Client secures the distribution and consumption of mobile TV broadcasts, enabling a broad range of business models. The Client provides an implementation of mobile TV schemes in use today with an easy migration path to add new schemes as they emerge.

“The maturity of the Discretix OMA-BCAST Client enables immediate integration of OMA BCAST Smartcard profile into handsets and thus accelerates the launch of mobile TV services”, said François Moreau de Saint Martin, CEO of Viaccess. “The interoperability with the purple TV CAS will further increase the range of handsets and services available to subscribers.”

“Interoperability with the Viaccess purple-TV CAS reduces integration efforts and time to market for handset OEMs and ODMs”, said Gal Salomon, CEO of Discretix. “The availability of standards-based Mobile TV solutions will provide a massive boost for the market, eliminating the cost and complexity associated with the many propriety solutions.”

The solution will be showcased at the 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona (11-14th February), for more information, visit Discretix at Hall 4, Level 7, Hospitality Suite #22 and Viaccess at Booth AV28 on the main avenue.