Chinese chip company Tongxin Microelectronics Co., Ltd. (TMC) launched Linkai, an operating system for security chips, with payment product provider Goldpac on January 25, which is another collaboration between the two after the launch of China's first chip for EMV credit cards.
TMC has previously partnered with many companies to build an industry ecosystem of "super-smart chips" including "super financial chips".
Linkai security chip operating system has completely rewritten core code, which was streamlined and optimized, with more space for users and faster running speed.
The combination of the operating system and security chip ensures the security protection of hardware so that the system applications can connect effectively with industry ecology, the report said.
Linkai, as a basic general-purpose operating system, is not only focused on the financial industry but also suitable for mobile communications, automotive electronics, smart homes, Internet of Things, e-wallets, and other fields.
According to Economic Information Daily, China has been gradually replacing magnetic stripe cards with chip cards since 2015. The current stock of financial IC cards has exceeded one billion cards, but NXP from the Netherlands holds more than 95% of the market share.
"Linkai is an operating system born with the focus on security chip hardware," the report quoted TMC Vice President Zou Chongren as saying, adding that the product holds the promise of helping China's financial payment industry break free from foreign companies and accelerate the switch from financial IC cards to chip cards.
With Linkai, Chinese bank cards can gradually get rid of the mainstream Oracle's JAVA, experts said.
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