Mobile API specification available for the first time to open the Secure Element to application developers

London, 6th April 2011: To combat the growing number of malicious attacks on smartphone applications and operating systems, the SIMalliance today announces the availability of its Open Mobile API.

For the first time this allows application providers to access and utilize the Secure Element* within the internet-connected mobile device, providing highly secure two-factor authentication to enable the secure delivery of a host of NFC, payment and identity services.

Current levels of single factor authentication – where users log in to a mobile application or service using a password – has been shown to be inadequate as attacks on smartphone and tablet applications increase in number and sophistication.

By connecting the application to the Secure Element via the Open Mobile API, many security breaches we see today will become easily preventable.

Created by the SIMalliance Open Mobile API workgroup, release v.1.01 of the Open Mobile API delivers the transport layer between the smartphone application and the Secure Element. 
“The development of a standardised API is a very significant step towards reducing the threat of identity theft and fraud on today’s generation of smartphones and tablets,” says Frédéric Vasnier, Chairman of the Board, SIMalliance.

“Knowing their data is safe will increase consumer confidence and stimulate growing demand for new services – and that is good news for the user, the mobile operator and the hundreds of brands that now recognise the opportunities of engaging with their consumers on the mobile.”

The SIMalliance Open Mobile API spec is available here.
Read SIMalliance’s Position Paper here.