FREMONT, Calif., ISMANING, Germany, and ST. GALLEN, Switzerland, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCMM; Prime Standard: SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, and Bluehill ID (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: BUQ) today announced a wide-ranging technology and distribution agreement that targets contactless smart card, RFID and NFC markets worldwide. The partnership marks another significant step in SCM's strategy to expand into the fast growing contactless market, and also further extends Bluehill ID's distribution channels and technology portfolio for identity management and electronic security. Under this agreement, companies of the Bluehill ID Group will distribute SCM contact smart card reader technology on an OEM basis and SCM will have access to Bluehill ID's unique dual antenna RFID reader technology. The two companies have also agreed to share technology and jointly develop new hardware and software products, and to cooperate in optimizing reader production. Among the first projects planned will be SCM's development of new NFC readers based on Bluehill ID modules. Bluehill ID for its part expects to bring products to market more quickly and cost effectively by using its technology with the SCM firmware platform, and will examine ways to benefit from SCM's production and supply chain strengths. Commenting on the cooperation agreement, Felix Marx, CEO of SCM Microsystems said, "The alliance with Bluehill ID is an important step for SCM as we transform the company into a forward-looking business focusing on identity management and contactless and RFID technology. We expect to grow our sales in contact smart card readers using Bluehill ID channels, and to make faster inroads to the NFC market by working together." Ayman Ashour, CEO of Bluehill ID added, "SCM is the premier company in logical access solutions, and their plans to expand further into the converged physical and logical access control space through their acquision of Hirsch are closely aligned with our own. This partnership with SCM will enable us to benefit from our joint strengths in these very exciting growth markets." Bluehill ID is an investor in SCM as well. "Bluehill ID´s recent increase of their stake in SCM Microsystems to above seven percent is very much welcomed by SCM and further strengthens our partnership," said Marx. About SCM Microsystems, Inc. SCM Microsystems is a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital content and services at home and in the marketplace. The company develops, markets and sells the industry's broadest range of smart card reader technology for secure authentication of individuals by computers, networks and facilities. The company's customers include OEMs, governments and enterprises worldwide. U.S. headquarters are in Fremont, California; global headquarters are in Ismaning, Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems website at http://www.scmmicro.com/. About Bluehill ID AG Bluehill ID AG is an international company with headquarters in Switzerland and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN CH0031958629; Symbol BUQ.F/BUQ.DE; http://www.bluehill-id.com/) Bluehill ID is dedicated to the responsible use and development of RFID and other automatic identification technologies in the security, national identification, tracking and other growing applications. The business model of the company is based on combining disciplined acquisitive growth with strong organic growth from portfolio companies. DATASOURCE: SCM Microsystems, Inc. CONTACT: Annika Oelsner, +49 89 9595-5220, , or Darby Dye, +1-510-249-4883, , both of SCM; or Fabien Nestmann of Bluehill ID, +44 783 80 43, Web Site: http://www.scmmicro.com/

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