Australian certificate authority eSign has detailed bold plans to
secure wireless e-commerce transactions using custom-built parts of a
public key infrastructure (PKI).
Using software from VeriSign, the
company said it would build what it called “wireless trust” applications
with digital certificates, digital signatures and a cut-down version of
the Secure Sockets Layer protocol. eSign is a wholly owned subsidiary of
systems integrator Com Tech
Communications, and acts as VeriSign’s Australian representative.
Future developments from eSign will include:
in mobile devices to enable the rest of the security services;
still provide strong authentication and “real-time certificate
validation for low-footprint handhelds”;
certificate into the SSL process;
digital certificates would be stored in directories on the wireless gateways;
eSign’s e-commerce payment systems will also be amended so that they can
handle tranactions from roaming devices.
“Australia has one of the highest penetrations of mobile phones and
Internet usage in the world,” said Gregg Rowley, MD of eSign. “A
personal device such as a mobile phone is an ideal way for consumers to
access many Web services, and a convenient device for the storage and
use of digital certificates.”
