Alcatel-Lucent and Phoenix Technologies to Provide Deeper Authentication and Protection for Laptops
PARIS and SAN JOSE, Calif., April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Phoenix Technologies Ltd. today announced it is teaming up with Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) to ensure Phoenix FailSafe(TM) theft deterrence service is interoperable with Alcatel-Lucent’s award-winning OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian (NLG) to expand authentication and remote kill capabilities to lost or stolen laptops. The NLG will also integrate the Phoenix SecureCore Pre-boot Authentication (PBA) service, assuring the computer can’t boot without the proper “ignition key”.
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Alcatel-Lucent’s OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian is an always-on security system on a CDMA or HSDPA 3G card that remotely secures, monitors, manages and locates a mobile computer and remotely protects the computer’s data if it is lost or stolen. Invented by Bell Labs and incubated by Alcatel-Lucent Ventures, the NLG has its own processor, power supply and operating system, and it leverages 3G networks to let enterprises manage laptops anywhere, anytime, even when the computer is turned off. This solution allows simple and seamless integration with third parties, such as Phoenix Technologies, and provides application partners with a unique way to offer enterprises secure, always-on business critical applications and features for mobile laptop computers. Customers can then select the best-of-breed solutions most appropriate for their business requirements.
Through the relationship, Alcatel-Lucent extends its eco-system of partners and expands its second-factor authentication capabilities to include pre-boot authentication to laptops that use a Phoenix Technologies BIOS. Using NLG’s “always-on” capabilities, the IT administrator can remotely revoke permissions on the NLG card, at which point the laptop will not be able to boot. “By leveraging our application partners like Phoenix Technologies, we strive to deliver unmatched benefits for CIOs who desire peace-of-mind and data protection assurance that comes with a comprehensive laptop data protection and theft prevention solution as in the Nonstop Laptop Guardian,” said Michel Emelianoff, Vice President of Alcatel-Lucent enterprise security solutions. “There is no doubt that starting our security controls at the BIOS level adds benefits to our customers.”
Phoenix FailSafe is a built-in theft deterrence platform for next-generation laptops, with advanced theft-loss protection and prevention features including encryption, tracking, data recovery and remote asset management. An intuitive and simple-to-use web interface allows users to remotely manage and even ‘brick/unbrick’ their laptops, much like smartphones are managed today. Through interoperability with Alcatel-Lucent’s NLG, Phoenix FailSafe enables these policies even when the laptop is turned off, ensuring that among other features, the GPS location capabilities and data are sent to the IT departments web-based security center. This type of feature is ideal for small-medium businesses (SMBs) and consumers.
SecureCore PBA requires a user to authenticate identity even before the computer boots up, enabling user authentication from core systems software (also known as BIOS) to the operating system directly, to achieve Single Sign-On into the O/S environment.
“As laptop usage increases, so does the risk they pose. Every year, hundreds of thousands of laptops – many containing confidential or sensitive data – are lost or stolen. We are working hand-in-hand with industry leaders to deliver the most secure laptop in the world so that the date is locked, protected, recovered and ‘killed’ in the event of theft or loss,” said Surendra Arora, Vice President of Business Development at Phoenix Technologies. “Our product collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent to build an advanced laptop security and theft-deterrence solution allows PC OEMs to offer a premium service for consumer and small business customers, solving a critical PC ownership, data protection and authentication problem.”
Phoenix Technologies has also joined the Alcatel-Lucent Application Partner Program. This partner program is available for companies with open API solutions, specifically for the OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian in the area of laptop security and management, such as patch management, asset and configuration management, backup and recovery, network access control, encryption, data protection, end point security, and two factor authentication.
For more information on Alcatel-Lucent’s OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian, visit http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/omniaccess3500
About Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) provides solutions that enable service providers, enterprise and governments worldwide, to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. As a leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent offers the end-to-end solutions that enable compelling communications services for people at home, at work and on the move. With operations in more than 130 countries, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with global reach. The company has the most experienced global services team in the industry, and one of the largest research, technology and innovation organizations in the telecommunications industry. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 17.8 billion in 2007 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/
About Phoenix Technologies
Phoenix Technologies Ltd. is the global market leader in system firmware that provides the most secure foundation for today’s computing environments. The PC industry’s top builders and specifiers trust Phoenix to pioneer open standards and deliver innovative solutions that will help them differentiate their systems, reduce time-to-market and increase their revenues. The Company’s flagship products, AwardCore, SecureCore, FailSafe and HyperSpace, are revolutionizing the PC user experience by delivering unprecedented security, reliability and ease-of-use. The Company established industry leadership with its original BIOS product in 1983, has 155 technology patents and 139 pending applications, and has shipped in over one billion systems. Phoenix is headquartered in Milpitas, California with offices worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.com/
Phoenix, Phoenix Technologies, Phoenix FailSafe, HyperSpace, HyperCore, PC 3.0 and the Phoenix Technologies logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Phoenix Technologies Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor
The statements in this release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, but not limited to, Phoenix’s technology collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, the benefits of such collaboration and Phoenix FailSafe functionality. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: technical challenges and delays, including code bugs, glitches and integration issues; unexpected challenges relating to the relationship between Phoenix and Alcatel-Lucent; the product offerings of competitors, especially with respect to functionality and time-to-market; price competition; Phoenix’s ability to attract and retain key employees; the ability of OEM and ODM customers to introduce and market products that incorporate and leverage the Phoenix FailSafe solution; end-market demand for Phoenix FailSafe solutions; and Phoenix’s ability to adequately protect its intellectual property rights. For a further list and description of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward looking statements in this release, we refer you to Phoenix’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Phoenix’s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All Phoenix forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon assumptions, forecasts and information available to Phoenix as of the date hereof, and Phoenix assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
Contacts Worldwide: Shauli Chaudhuri Tel. +1 408-570-1060 E-mail: public_relations@phoenix.com U.S. Cedric Vanhaver or Jeff Smith Tel : +1 650-433-4154 Email : phoenix@globalfluency.com
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Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
CONTACT: Worldwide, Shauli Chaudhuri of Phoenix Technologies Ltd.,+1-408-570-1060, public_relations@phoenix.com; or U.S., Cedric Vanhaver orJeff Smith, +1-650-433-4154, phoenix@globalfluency.com, both for PhoenixTechnologies Ltd.
Web site: http://www.phoenix.com/http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/