STMicroelectronics and NXP have signed a licensing deal that will see STMicroelectronics integrating the entire Mifare family into its security solutions for mobile phone and banking applications. The deal “will facilitate the convergence of the Mifare infrastructure and near field communication (NFC) enabled mobile devices, accelerating worldwide contactless application deployments,” say the two companies.

The licensing agreement entitles STMicro to build NXP’s Mifare Plus, Mifare Classic and Mifare DESFire solutions into its SIM card chips as well as embedded secure solutions aimed at the mobile phone market and security solutions for PC readers and bank card chips.

“As the leader in contactless ICs, we are convinced that the mainstream adoption of NFC requires true industry collaboration, says Ruediger Stroh, general manager of NXP’s identification business. “We will continue to drive the extension and evolution of contactless applications while developing technologies that provide the flexibility, security and performance required to bring an exciting new range of devices even closer to consumers’ fingertips.”

“The breadth of ST’s smart card IC product portfolio, ranging from dual-interface microcontrollers to NFC devices and related embedded and SIM-based secure solutions, positions the company as a unique player in the contactless ecosystem,” added Marie-France Florentin, general manager ofSTMicroelectronics’ digital secure access division. “Teaming up with NXP and licensing Mifare technology, the most widespread contactless technology around the world, we now support an additional and essential application field, which will enrich our portfolio of secure processor ICs for the SIM, banking card ICs and embedded secure solutions.”