Company NXP has announced that its chip SmartMX was selected by the Government of China as a key element of the system of electronic passports, the first time realized in the country.SmartMX portfolio of NXP uses the latest achievements in the field of cryptography and data security to protect the chip as a hardware and software at levels that ensure the safe storage of data in the passport and creates a more sturdy binding instrument to its owner. The Chinese government will issue electronic passports in 2010 and plans to replace all their paper versions. Currently in China in circulation is more than 30 million passports, so in the coming years is expected to release significant amounts of electronic passports.

To date, about 150 million NXP chips used in more than 80% of countries worldwide, producing in their e-passports. 68 out of 79 states, including the U.S., UK and Singapore, using technology NXP SmartMX.

Before deciding on the choice of NXP as a major supplier of chips for electronic passports, relevant government ministries in China conducted a thorough assessment of chips for smart cards. The choice was approved by the government representative responsible for the implementation of electronic passports, which reads: "On the basis of this independent analysis, we were able to establish that the technology NXP SmartMX provides the highest levels of interoperability, better range and the readout time, which fully meets our stringent requirements. Working in close collaboration with NXP distributor in China and the official development team of e-passports, we have created an operating system, supporting infrastructure, electronic passports in China, built on the base platform SmartMX. “

"We are very proud that the Chinese government has chosen our company to supply chips SmartMX for its future with electronic passports" - speaks Gunter Shlatte (Guenter Schlatte), vice president and general manager, eGovernment, NXP Semiconductors. - "Since the concept of ePassports, NXP has always taken the forefront in developing solutions to ensure the reliability of border control and protection of personal data and to improve communication systems within the infrastructure."

Chips NXP SmartMX contain a number of unique security features that enable face a variety of attack scenarios with light and laser radiation, as well as the hardware protection of certain areas of chips. In addition, the devices provide higher speed reading and writing, through the optimization of software and hardware. Chips NXP SmartMX delivered in the finest in the industry 250-micron modules, allowing use in a wide range of contact and contactless applications in the field of electronic government.