Mobile Signatures Today
The mobile signature can have the legal equivalent of your own wet signature, hence the term "Mobile Ink", commercial term coined by Sicap. Other terms include "Mobile ID" by Valimo, "Mobile Certificate" by a circle of trust of 3 Finnish mobile network operators implementing a roaming mobile signature framework mobiilivarmenne etc.
According to the EU directives for electronic signatures the mobile signature can have the same level of protection as the hand written signature if all components in the signature creation chain are appropriately certified. The governing standard for the mobile signature creation devices and equivalent of a hand written signature is described in the Commission Decision 2003/511/EC of 14 July 2003 on the publication of reference numbers of generally recognised standards for electronic signature products in accordance with Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council Official Journal L 175, 15.7.2003. If the signature solution is Common Criteria evaluated by an independent party and given the EAL4+ designation, the solution can produce what the EU directive and consequent clarifications are calling a Qualified Electronic Signature. The current standard dates back to the year 2002/2003 and is in the process being renewed and published by the end of 2012. Most, if not all, mobile signature implementations to date generate what the EU Directive is calling Advanced Electronic Signature.
The most successful mobile signature solutions can be found in Turkey, Estonia and Finland with millions of users.
The mobile signature is created by typing a secret code (i.e. your signing PIN) into the signing device (for example: your mobile phone). This secret code in combination with your key storage token (for example: RSA private key stored in the secure environment such as a SIM card) and a chosen text triggers a cryptographic algorithm to generate the (digital) signature.
Each of your mobile/digital signatures can be linked to a digital certificate (an electronic record) that vouches for your real-world identity.
Thus, the mobile signature is a unique feature for:
- Proving your real-world identity to third parties without face-to-face communications
- Making a legally-binding commitment by sending a confirmed message to another party
- Solve security problems of the online world with identity confirmation.
Read more about this topic: Mobile Signature
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