Finland rolls out mobile digital certificates: Finnish citizens are now able to use mobile phones equipped with digital certificates to identify themselves when accessing certain online government services. Citizens can register at a local police station and sign up to use the service. SIM cards equipped with the security certificates required for mobile signatures are available from Finnish mobile operator Elisa, and the cards are based on technology from German-based IT firm Giesecke & Devrient. A citizen wishing to, for example, register a change of address with the Finnish Population Register Centre can fill in the appropriate online form; shortly afterwards he will receive a text message to his mobile phone asking him to enter his mobile signature to complete the online request. The citizen then enters a PIN code, whereupon a digital signature is generated by the SIM card and returned to the registration office as a special encrypted message. By the end of 2005, the social insurance agency, the Tax Administration, the Ministry of Labour, and the Finnish OKO Bank want to avail of the mobile digital certificate as a means of citizen authentication.
South Korean citizens get Super Smart Cards: Smartcard provider e-Smart Technologies has launched its Super Smart Card in the city of Busan in South Korea. At a ceremony sponsored by the city government, the city's transit authority and other government organisations, e-Smart unveiled the first of 5 million "e-Smart-MYbi" cards due to be distributed to citizens. The cards were developed following an agreement with Mybi Company, an e-currency infrastructure provider for public transport and micro payments in South Korea. The cards are multi-application e-currency biometric smartcards that can be used as e-government ID cards and as payment cards for mass transportation, as well as for banking transactions, point of sale transactions, internet activity and other financial dealings. "The e-Smart-MYbi system will provide an unparalleled system of privacy, convenience, safety and security -- security that is critically important today with the rise in identity theft, financial fraud and terrorist attacks," said Mary Grace, president and CEO of e-Smart.
Antigua to revolutionise land registry: The government of the island of Antigua is piloting a new system that promises to revolutionise the Land Registry, reports the Antigua Sun newswire. The new Stewart Land Folio Suite, developed by Texas-based Stewart International in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), will enable government officials to gain instant access to detailed records of almost any plot of land on the island. The system is expected to replace the existing paper-based records system, saving time and reducing the possibility of errors or fraud. The system will be fully searchable and will contain high-resolution aerial photographs of the whole island. It can also be used to aid assessments for property tax. The Antiguan prime minister hailed the new system as a boost to transparency in government.
Brunei launches online events diary: The Information Department at the Prime Minister's Office in Brunei has launched an online "Daily Diary" of events taking place throughout the country. The website, www.bruneidiary.info, provides details of a broad range of events, including official occasions, cultural activities, community events, religious ceremonies, sports events, seminars, workshops, exhibitions and trade fairs. Companies and organisations are invited to submit details of their events free of charge via the website. The site also provides an online forum for users' comments and questions. "The sharing of information is one of the main methods for a small nation like Brunei to develop together and the Daily Diary is a first step in increasing the spirit of camaraderie while contributing to establishing a united and informative community," said the Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, speaking at the launch of the site.
UNESCO sponsors Caribbean e-government course: A West Indies educational institute, in association with UNESCO, is launching an e-learning course on local e-government in the Caribbean. A pilot version of the Certificate in e-Governance course, run by the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC), is due to begin this September. The course is aimed at interested people in governmental and non-governmental organisations in the Caribbean and aims to improve the knowledge and skills of participants in the use of ICT in government. The course uses a "blended learning" approach that includes online resources, print materials and online interaction with co-ordinators, tutors and other course participants. For more information, visit the course website.
Autor: Sylvia Leatham
Quelle: ElectricNews, 27.07.2005
