France-based Gemalto has announced its long-held agreement to serve as the trusted service manager for the U.S.-based Isis joint venture, which plans to launch its NFC platform next year.
Gemalto announced the deal today to provide the TSM services, which will include managing applications on SIM cards and other secure elements the Isis telcos–Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile USA–will use when they launch NFC, planned for mid-2012.
It’s unclear why Gemalto announced the deal today, since Isis chose Gemalto more than a year ago, as NFC Times reported, and Gemalto CEO Olivier Piou confirmed the Isis contract nearly two months ago in a conference call with financial analysts.