Purpose
The primary purpose of the Java Card Forum is to promote Java as the preferred programming language for multiple-application smart cards. Java, invented by Sun Microsystems in 1995, has two important features that make it the ideal choice for smart cards.

• Java's security model enables multiple applications to coexist securely on the same card, a very important feature when money or confidential information are stored on the card.
   
• applications can be developed and validated more quickly with Java, reducing the time-to-market for new smart card programs.

Multiple application smart cards are clearly a market trend for the near future, and Java Card enables their development and deployment better than any other technology today. The capability of having applications such as SIM, loyalty and banking co-resident on the same card will be a major benefit to issuers and service providers, in that they can differentiate their offering to the end-user and amortize the costs of providing service through "co-branded" revenues. Furthermore, with the strong security available with Java, applications can now be added, removed or updated after cards are manufactured.

The primary activity of the Java Card Forum is the development and recommendation of specifications to the Smart Card division of Sun Microsystems, Inc., owner of the Java Card API specification. The Forum's activities are intended to promote the Java Card API specification as the industry standard, reflecting the needs of smart card manufacturers and their customers.

The primary customers for Java-based smart cards include companies and agencies in the financial, telecommunications, health care, transpiration and information technology industries. To ensure that the interests of smart card issuers are fully represented in their deliberations, the members of the Java Card Forum have established the Strategic Partner Program. In this program, companies that are involved in specifying or issuing smart cards are invited to participate in the requirements definition process. Significant contributions are being made by financial institutions, such as major banks and card associations, by telecommunication companies, principally the operators of GSM digital wireless networks, and by information technology companies. There are currently 18 companies participating as Strategic Partners.

Organization

Following the announcement, by JavaSoft, (now the Java Card division of SUN Microsystem) of the Java Card API in October, 1996, Schlumberger (now Axalto) and Gemplus laid the groundwork for the Java Card Forum early the next year. Bull CP8 Transac joined with these two companies to officially organize the Forum on April 27, 1997.

The Forum is divided into two committees, the Business Committee and the Technical Committee. The groups have met frequently, every two months, since the Forum was founded and successfully prepared recommendations to SUN Microsystems for the new Java Card 2.0 API specification. Current work is focused on vertical market extensions to the core specification for GSM telecom, banking and information technology.

Officers

The officers of the Java Card Forum are:

President - Christian Goire (CP8)

Christian.Goire@Bull.net

Chairman/Business Committee - Alain Sigaud (Gemplus)

alain.sigaud@gemplus.com

Chairman/Technical Committee - Bertrand du Castel (Axalto)

ducastel@slb.com

Secretary Antoinette Quillet (Axalto)

antionette.quillet@louveciennes.sema.slb.com

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