Everyone loves Short Message Service (SMS). They are discreet, direct, and instantaneous; but at the same time, surprisingly insecure as the contents of SMS messages are known to the network operator's systems and personnel. Therefore, SMS has long been considered not an appropriate technology for secure communications. Most users do not realize how easy it may be to intercept.

Encrypting SMS is becoming increasingly important as the examples of SMS intrusion and interception multiply. The new mobile phone environment is characterized by ‘Java-based’ handsets that contain an operating system. With the fast growing demand advancing mobile commerce (m-commerce) initiatives, the secure transaction of SMS has become a must. On Java-based smart hand phones a cryptographic engine can be downloaded onto the mobile phone’s operating system to encrypt the SMS before transmission over the public mobile domain. However, the problem to overcome is the unification or standardization of a common operating system.

IPCS considered that the best alternative to overcome these apparent difficulties is to have the crypto engine and PKI on the mobile phone’s SIM, making it interoperable with any type of mobile phones. We subsequently developed a ‘small foot-print’ crypto engine that fits onto a 128 kb SIM and found a way to embed (transfer and install) it onto the SIM. It’s cryptographic feature is of today’s highest cryptographic standards, an asymmetric RSA key pair, with a key length of minimum 1,024 bit and an encryption strength of 128 bit, the same used by all strong authentication and encryption engines used on computers for e-commerce.

All mobile devices, whatever type, brand or model, use a SIM card to operate. Without it you would not be able to switch on your mobile device. The SIM card is the only part of the operator’s network that connects and authenticates the subscriber to the network. IPCryptSIM^TM facilitated the exchange of private, snooper-free text.
 
IPCryptSIM^TM can keep eavesdroppers, intruders, paparazzi, stalkers, and other "monitors" out of your business.
 
IPCryptSIM^TM combines the discretion and mobility of "texting" with the privacy and security of modern cryptography.

CryptSIM^TM is the answer to secure communication
 

The future of m-commerce will be determined by m-payments success.

Before mobile commerce is taken up by the mass market, two pivotal components must be in place. First, a robust infrastructure must be developed to allow transactions between the buyer and seller in return for goods and services. Second, a mechanism must exist to clear and settle the transaction.

Mobile payments and mobile banking will therefore form the battleground for the mobile commerce revolution. No bank, mobile operator, or handset manufacturer can afford to be left out of this multi-billion dollar opportunity.
 
 

The ever growing number of mobile phone users as target group represents an enormous potential for m- Commerce as a new level of e-Commerce. M-Commerce, however, will only function and be successful if mobile payments and mobile banking have been well established. m-Commerce is a subset of e-Commerce, which only started to take off after secure e-payment methods and e-banking systems have been introduced. The wireless channels being created by the collision of the mobile and Internet technologies, are opening up a new landscape of threats and opportunities. Mobile payment is using the mobile phone at the point-of-sale instead of using credit or debit cards. This provides an unparalleled shopping experience combining ease with flexibility.