Schlumberger Ltd, the Paris, France smart card and security company, has developed a smartcard that plugs directly into a PC, without using a smartcard reader. æCryptoflex e-gateÆ links with the computer via the universal serial bus port, allowing a user to keep the access point for sensitive information outside the computerÆs hard drive. The technology, which features 56-bit DES, Triple DES and RSA encryption, will be available in mid-2000, says Schlumberger. The Samuel microprocessor, which is being developed by another recent Via acquisition, the Centaur Division of IDT Inc, will have a 700MHz CPU clock speed and 133MHz FSB. The official said it will be on a par with IntelÆs Pentium III chip.
