Baltimore Technologies (London: BLM), a global leader in e-security, and TrustedWorld(TM) partner HP today announced that Hongkong Post has chosen Baltimore UniCERT(TM) as the Certificate Authority (CA) to issue and manage e-Certs, the digital credentials that will be embedded in the new Hong Kong ID card (Smart ID). Baltimore UniCERT will manage the complex registration requirement of issuing over 4 million e-Certs in the next four years. Smart ID is a strategic Hong Kong e-government initiative designed to enable all citizens engage and exchange information electronically with the government in an easy and efficient manner. It will be offered to the entire Hong Kong population, phased in to replace the existing, paper-based ID card. e-Cert is a digital certificate used to authenticate online transactions, providing a secure, convenient platform for e-commerce. It also enables users to generate digital signatures, which enjoy the same legal status in Hong Kong as handwritten signatures under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance. As well as the Smart ID application, Hongkong Post also plans to launch a number of PKI-based e-government services, including e-payments, through the second half of this year.
"Baltimore's open, standards-based PKI technology together with their expertise as a leading provider of high-end trust infrastructure to the e-government sector worldwide, enable us to work with the Hong Kong government to provide more cost efficient and effective services," said Casey Poon, General Manager, HP Services. "In addition, Baltimore's track record of successful Identity Card deployments has made them our partner of choice."
Poon further added, " We are deeply committed to the long-term growth of Hong Kong as the IT hub of Asia. We see the e-Cert on Smart ID Card project as a highly strategic initiative for HP in Hong Kong, helping to elevate our city's digital security leadership in this region."
"Baltimore is at the forefront of delivering high-end trust infrastructures to the world's leading e-government projects," said Gavan Egan, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific for Baltimore Technologies. "We are delighted to work with HP to deliver this strategic project and to further underpin our long-term commitment to the region."
Baltimore's regional headquarters are also located in Hong Kong and key Baltimore customers in the region include Hongkong Post, JETCo and Tradelink in Hong Kong, TaiwanCA, TradeVan and the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan, the Macau government, the Korean Information Certificate Authority and Chohung Bank in Korea.
Quelle: Business Wire
