International smart card specifications body GlobalPlatform has released an amendment to its Card Specification v2.2 to advance the management of multiple contactless applications within a SIM, a memory card/ embedded element in a mobile device or a simple contactless card.

Amendment C to GlobalPlatform Card Specification v2.2 addresses the way users can manage contactless services on a secure element and choose which application they would like to activate. The technology outlines how the mobile phone interface can be tailored by the card issuer to meet its needs and those of service providers, including the storage of commercial logos to enable brand recognition on a mobile phone screen.

With the finalization of Amendment C, GlobalPlatform has completed the first phase of its activity to enhance and support NFC technology. When this amendment is used together with GlobalPlatform Card Specification v2.2 Amendment A, called Confidential Card Content Management, a service provider can handle applications over-the-air on a user’s secure element, present the service visually on a mobile phone screen and pilot the behaviour of applications within an NFC mobile phone infrastructure.

GlobalPlatform Card Specification v2.2 Amendment C will be referenced by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s (ETSI) Technical Committee SCP (Smart Card Platform) in its specification ‘UICC Application Programming Interface for Java Card for Contactless Applications’.