Spansion Announces Availability of Flash Memory-Based Security for Handsets
Spansion today announced the availability of a Flash memory subsystem that provides security protection from viruses, attacks and service thefts on handsets.
Spansion Secure technology for handsets is part of the company's secure Flash strategy, designed to embed a range of encryption, authentication and other security features inside Spansion Flash memory solutions, enabling protection of valuable consumer data, content and code.
Traditionally, security in handsets has been handled in software and the baseband processor, which are inherently vulnerable to system attacks. By providing security in the same physical package as the memory, Spansion offers stronger protection when accessing the Flash memory and the valuable data and content stored there. MirrorBit solutions protected by Spansion Secure technology safeguard across multiple zones of memory -- such as separate, secured areas for the user, for the operator, for content rights objects and for the handset manufacturer -- with the potential to assign up to 16 zones. The solution is operating system and chipset independent, enabling handset designers to speed time to market and save on development costs. In addition, it enables direct server-to-memory authentication and secure channel communications similar to a VPN, enabling new business models for the enterprise with remote management of important data distribution.
Spansion plans to showcase the latest features of its new security technology at 3GSM, including:
- Secure Boot -- Protection of handsets with SIM lock and remote management capabilities that render phones useless to thieves if stolen, as well as protected transactions through user authentication and protected key storage.
- Secure Zones -- System-enabled partitioning of memory for protection of important personal, enterprise and financial data files that are password-secured.
- Virus Rollback -- Virus recovery capabilities which preserve the handset operating system as well as functionality and data in the event that a virus has infected the phone.
- Secure Access -- Downloading content using mobile commerce, such as a movie, mobile TV, music file, enterprise application or document in a trusted environment.
The MirrorBit solutions protected by Spansion Secure announced today will be offered to customers in a Spansion Multi Chip Package (MCP). Samples are available now with volume production targeted for the second half of 2007. Depending on the handset configuration, the Spansion MCP would include: Spansion MirrorBit NOR Flash memory, Spansion MirrorBit ORNAND(TM) Flash memory, Spansion 7000C Processor, pSRAM and/or DRAM.
Traditionally, security in handsets has been handled in software and the baseband processor, which are inherently vulnerable to system attacks. By providing security in the same physical package as the memory, Spansion offers stronger protection when accessing the Flash memory and the valuable data and content stored there. MirrorBit solutions protected by Spansion Secure technology safeguard across multiple zones of memory -- such as separate, secured areas for the user, for the operator, for content rights objects and for the handset manufacturer -- with the potential to assign up to 16 zones. The solution is operating system and chipset independent, enabling handset designers to speed time to market and save on development costs. In addition, it enables direct server-to-memory authentication and secure channel communications similar to a VPN, enabling new business models for the enterprise with remote management of important data distribution.
Spansion plans to showcase the latest features of its new security technology at 3GSM, including:
- Secure Boot -- Protection of handsets with SIM lock and remote management capabilities that render phones useless to thieves if stolen, as well as protected transactions through user authentication and protected key storage.
- Secure Zones -- System-enabled partitioning of memory for protection of important personal, enterprise and financial data files that are password-secured.
- Virus Rollback -- Virus recovery capabilities which preserve the handset operating system as well as functionality and data in the event that a virus has infected the phone.
- Secure Access -- Downloading content using mobile commerce, such as a movie, mobile TV, music file, enterprise application or document in a trusted environment.
The MirrorBit solutions protected by Spansion Secure announced today will be offered to customers in a Spansion Multi Chip Package (MCP). Samples are available now with volume production targeted for the second half of 2007. Depending on the handset configuration, the Spansion MCP would include: Spansion MirrorBit NOR Flash memory, Spansion MirrorBit ORNAND(TM) Flash memory, Spansion 7000C Processor, pSRAM and/or DRAM.
