I was poking about on the hp web server, trying to get some more hints about the technology they are pushing: <URL: http://www-dmo.external.hp.com/gsy/press/sevcik.html>
Date: 7/11/96
Rich Sevcik, vice president and general manager of the Systems Technology Group, testified to a U.S. Senate subcommittee June 12 on the importance of cryptography to Hewlett-Packard's ability to compete in the international marketplace and to the nation's high-technology competitiveness.
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In conclusion, he introduced HP's technology called the International Cryptography Framework (ICF). Products based on ICF would contain a suite of cryptography capabilities of various strengths and types, all non-functional. A customer then could enable the desired types and strengths of cryptography in conformance with export and host government regulations by obtaining a stamp-size smart card (known as a "policy card"), programmed to turn on the particular cryptography capability allowed. This would protect the right of each nation to establish an independent policy governing cryptography in digital communication and storage. Sevcik showed the subcommittee members a prototype cryptography unit and several policy cards. He said HP plans to have an initial ICF product available later this year as part of a total smart card system solution offered due to an alliance with Informix and GEMPLUS, with other ICF-based products planned for next year.
U.S. export license authorities are finishing their review of this first-phase implementation of ICF. "We have been extremely pleased with the responsiveness and cooperation of these agencies in the review of our technology," Sevcik said. "We have every reason to believe that the cryptographic unit and host systems will be granted liberal export authorization consistent with our expectations for ICF."
<URL: http://www.hp.com/csopress/95sep26.html>
Press Release
HP Announces Alliance with Gemplus and Informix to Deliver Personal Information Cards for Consumers
U.S. Government Reviewing Industry-backed HP International Cryptography Framework
September 26, 1995
PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 26, 1995 -- Hewlett-Packard Company, Gemplus and Informix today announced the formation of an alliance to develop a secure infrastructure that will enable corporations to speed new services to consumers via a credit-card-sized personal information card.
These cards will carry several thousand times the amount of data carried by currently available smart cards. Additionally, the data on these cards will be fully encrypted for secure international communication, so the card will be able to be used anywhere in the world. HP believes that the U.S. government will authorize the export to commercial enterprises of products in Phase I(1) of HP's international cryptography framework standard -- one of the underlying technologies in the infrastructure that will enable the international use of personal information cards. The framework is based on HP's open cryptographic structure.
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