• Vodafone Spain has announced that CAMERFIRMA has certified its mobile electronic signature solution for administrative procedures and secure transactions.
• CAMERFIRMA guarantees the security and authentication of the mobile electronic signature, allowing all Chambers of Commerce and companies associated with it to carry out transactions and administrative procedures from their mobile telephone.

Madrid, 30th June 2008.- Vodafone Spain has announced that CAMERFIRMA, the digital certification authority for Chambers of Commerce in Spain, will issue digital certificates so that companies can carry out administrative procedures and secure transactions with its mobile electronic signature solution. The agreement, which all Chambers of Commerce and companies associated with Camerfirma will be able to benefit from, has been signed today by Alfonso Carcasona, Managing Director of Camerfirma and by the Director of Vodafone Spain Business Unit and Institutions, Antonio Alemán.

With the mobile electronic signature certified by Camerfirma, associated companies will be able to carry out business processes such as the signing of contracts, electronic transactions and issuing of invoices from the mobile telephone, therefore combining the security of the electronic signature with the ease of use and penetration of the mobile telephone. Camerfirma, leader in the issuing of certificates for companies, offers different certificates that reside on the Vodafone SIM and which allow customers to sign as a natural person belonging to a company, as a company representative or as a special proxy of a company or legal person. Consequently, these certificates designed for companies enable the mobile electronic signature to validate different powers and specify new relations for developing the digital economy and secure commerce on the Internet.

Vodafone Spain, which over the last few weeks has introduced the mobile electronic signature for managing Banco Sabadell’s corporate processes, markets the mobile electronic signature service through a new SIM*, which includes a chip containing all the public certificates on authenticity, security and confidentiality. Customers will now be able to perform transactions that require an electronic signature in mobile environments, provided that the service providers allow it.

Vodafone, a pioneer in the development of the service in Spain, has enhanced the standards defined by the industry with advanced security capabilities in order to offer an easy-to-use solution to its customers, who can acquire the new SIM cards with the application of Vodafone's Mobile electronic signature through usual channels for enterprises.

The mobile electronic signature is easy to use. Using the private signature key generated and stored in their SIM, Vodafone's customers can sign from their mobile phone, and just as securely as with a traditional handwritten signature. The procedure is the same for any kind of mobile phone because it is based on the SIM card. This technology will enable users to make bank transfers, access web pages that require authentication, buy goods or plane tickets, sign documents, complete in-house approval procedures at their company, etc.

With this agreement, Vodafone Spain takes another step forward in its offer of rendering mobility services and is a pioneer in the offering of signature creation devices with Camerfirma’s total guarantee in line with European Union technical regulations. The mobile electronic signature will give a fresh impetus to bringing Information Society-related services, in public administrations and in sectors such as banking or insurance, closer to the public at large.

Vodafone and the electronic mobile signature
In 2006, Vodafone embarked on the project to design electronic signature solutions for mobile devices, as well as to implement advanced electronic signatures in any applications that could be enhanced by operating from mobile environments. Vodafone's product makes it far easier to use Electronic Signatures, because you no longer need a PC with an Internet connection to sign documents and transactions.

The use of digital mobile platforms will contribute to the creation of a fully-fledged e-administration, which is one of the key goals of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade's Avanza Plan.

Notes to the editor:
* known as USIM-FEM (acronym of UMTS SIM-MOBILE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE)

The Vodafone Spain solution was presented at the 8th International Common Criteria Congress held in Rome on the 26 September 2007. This Congress brought together international certification bodies, laboratories, product developers and systems security decision makers.

About CAMERFIRMA
Camerfirma, the digital certification authority for Chambers of Commerce is currently the leader in the issuing of certificates for enterprises. Through Camerfirma, the Chambers offer companies the possibility of doing risk-free business on the Internet, guaranteeing the identity and powers of any company, self-employed person, company representative or lawyer doing business over the Internet, and enters the electronic signature in all business processes.

Currently, the Chambers’ certification authority is introducing new initiatives such as the electronic invoice, timestamping services; applications for work visas in professional associations or help with the observance of the Law on Citizens’ Access to Public Services 11/2007.

For further information, please contact:

Vodafone Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +34 607133455
E-Mail: gabinetedeprensa@corp.vodafone.es

Chambers Council Communication Department
Tel: 91 590 69 09
E-mail: comunicacion@cscamaras.es