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REDWOOD CITY, Ca., Gemplus® and CISA® Security Products Inc. today announced that they are working together to develop smart card applications for the hotel industry to provide unmatched security features, to reduce a hotel's liability, and to enable the development of marketing programs to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The recently announced smart card locking system for the 2041 rooms at the Hilton New York & Towers is the result of this collaboration between CISA and Gemplus. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., one of the world largest hotel chain with some 650 hotels, is also installing the CISA/Gemplus smart card locks and plans to rollout other applications using the same smart card.

These smart locking systems recognize information stored on a microchip embedded in the hotel's smart keycard or a guest's smart card. Smart cards are much more difficult to duplicate than the traditional hotel room magnetic stripe keycard, hence bringing security features to the CISA locking system that could help to reduce a hotel's liability.

The ongoing Gemplus and CISA development effort will have a multi-application focus, and could include such applications as loyalty program, electronic purse, pay TV, kiosk check-in, telecommunications, gaming, and Internet applications. The applications will be based on CISA's Dual Squared technology that enables the concurrent use of both memory and microprocessor smart cards in the same lock.

The Gemplus/CISA solution also makes possible the development of co-marketing programs with partners such as airlines and car rental companies.

"Gemplus is pleased to be working with an industry leader like CISA to provide smart card solutions to the hotel industry," said Donna Jeker, vice president of strategic marketing and partnerships for North and Latin America. "By combining the inherent benefits of smart cards, such as security and processing power, with CISA's locking system, we will deliver multi-application solutions that offer hotel guests enhanced convenience and security."

Pascal Metivier, Executive Vice president of CISA Security Products Inc., says "There is a lot of concern from the international hotel chains concerning the security of magnetic card-based locking systems. The CISA/Gemplus solution is a major step towards improving guest security and reducing hotels liability. The multi application capacities of the smart card technology and its related business case turns the room key into a profitable device that opens new horizon for marketing application in the tourism and hospitality industry." Metivier concludes that "the leaders of the hospitality industry are going smart card with CISA and Gemplus."

About Gemplus

Gemplus (www.gemplus.com) is the world's leading provider of plastic and smart card-based solutions. Gemplus sells magnetic stripe cards, memory and microprocessor-based smart cards, smart contactless cards, electronic tags and smart objects. The company designs and markets software, development tools and readers. Gemplus also provides consulting, training and personalization services to deliver the industry's most comprehensive and flexible card-based solutions to its developers, distributors, partners, and customers.

With sales of over US$590 million in 1997, Gemplus employs more than 4,100 people in ten manufacturing facilities, five R&D centers and 41 sales and marketing offices located in 27 countries around the world. Founded in 1988, Gemplus has successfully implemented portable and secure smart card-based solutions to simplify applications such as public and wireless communications, financial transactions, loyalty, transportation, education, healthcare, identity, physical access control, pay TV, electronic commerce, Internet security, logical access control and information technology.

About CISA

CISA, based in Faenza Italy, has been a pioneer in electric and electronic locks since 1926. CISA is one of the largest lock manufacturer in the world. The company's innovations in locking systems technology ensure that CISA locks will always be in the forefront of industry standards. The company has a "CISA WORLDWIDE SERVICE" policy.

CISA Security Products Inc. based out of Chicago is selling, installing and servicing its products all over the United States and Canada.

CISA (www.cisa.it)

Pascal Mettivier
+1 312-649-1441