GENEVA, Switzerland, March 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Powerful, flexible secure microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, are helping airline loyalty cards grow into their own ecosystems. Using a secure microcontroller chipset from ST, Qantas, the Australian flag carrier, has deployed its latest loyalty card for passenger and baggage airport check-in as well as for multi-currency cash transactions, which Qantas calls "travel money."

ST has been the card and tag partner for Qantas since 2010 when the airline pioneered a next-generation loyalty card combining contactless check-in and automatic baggage drop linked to RFID tags. The addition of a cash-card function late last year has created a powerful ecosystem of travel and purchasing capabilities in a card. The ecosystem, which addresses objectives for "Simplifying the Airline Business" defined by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also includes a partner function targeted to enable airline industry partners to offer more services and features to their combined membership base in the future.

The Qantas Cash-Card is highly flexible as a travel tool, boasting 9 virtual wallets ideally suited to accommodating as many as 9 different currencies for a multi-country trip. Converting and transferring funds among the 9 currencies can be done instantly.

The card uses a unique 2 sub-system design to ensure the security of the user's data and currency: the EMV (EuroPay, MasterCard, Visa) runs the cash-card function and the LOYALTY kernel controls the check-in and partner functions. The approach required an enhanced EMV-level certification to ensure and confirm that the card applet maintained card security and EMV operation.

"Together with ABnote, the ST security and control offering to Qantas is very much in synch with the objectives of IATA 2020 vision of streamlining and mastering the flow of people, baggage, goods, and information across the whole air-travel infrastructure," said Francois Guibert, Executive Vice President & President, Greater China & South Asia Region, STMicroelectronics. "ST's technology enhances the travelers' every touch-point in the whole experience."

About STMicroelectronics

ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power and automotive products and embedded processing solutions. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.

In 2013, the Company's net revenues were $8.08 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.

About ABnote

ABnote, with facilities in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australasia, is a premier and trusted provider of secure products and solutions. We provide solutions to global customers including financial, retail, government, and many other commercial markets. ABnote's primary products include financial cards (Dual Interface, EMV, magnetic stripe), identification and credential cards (Drivers' Licenses, National ID cards, Student ID), transit cards, hotel, facility and theme park access cards and membership programs, retail plastic cards (gift, loyalty, RFID), barcodes and labels and secure documents (vital records, certificates, passports, and more); along with complimentary secure services, including instant card issuance, NFC mobile payments, TSM, personalization, secure warehousing, distribution and fulfillment. 

For Press Information Contact:

STMicroelectronics
Michael Markowitz
Director Technical Media Relations
+1 781 591 0354
michael.markowitz@st.com

ABnote Australasia Pty Ltd
Isin Husnu
Marketing Coordinator
+61 400 817 777

ST MCUs in Qantas Loyalty Card http://hugin.info/152740/R/1771337/603059.pdf

HUG#1771337