RIM Announces Bluetooth BlackBerry Smart Card Reader

Research In Motion has announced a new BlackBerry Smart Card Reader that will allow users to verify themselves through advanced AES-256 encryption. The reader will use Bluetooth to send the verification from the wearable smart card reader to the Blackberry device.

The smart card reader includes support for various government and corporate security requirements such as the US Department of Defense’s Common Access Card (CAC). Also included is support for S/MIME which can be used with the S/MIME Support Package v4.0 for BlackBerry.

“The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader combines the convenience of short-range Bluetooth connectivity with the advanced and proven security features of the BlackBerry architecture including the use of AES-based encryption and the ability for IT administrators to set policies to remotely manage the smart card reader like any other asset on the network,” said Scott Totzke, Director of Government Technology at RIM.

The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader is scheduled for Beta release in July of 2005.