As PC makers gear up to build desktops with hardware security, they face tough choices about how to implement a small but significant cryptography chip crucial to their architecture. That's because chipmakers are offering a bewildering array of options for so-called trusted platform modules, essentially low-cost silicon safes for a digital key. . . .
Atmel, Infineon, National Semiconductor and STMicroelectronics have been selling standalone TPM chips for some time. The chips typically cost less than $10 in volume and can encrypt and decrypt digital certificates and store them in on-board memory.

The TPM chips are pivotal in a PC industry initiative to build hardware security into the desktop in tandem with the next major version of Windows dubbed Longhorn. Thus even though the chips are small they ultimately represent a new hundred million unit/year opportunity.

Scrambling to get a foothold in that market, Broadcom Corp. announced Tuesday (Feb.17) it has licensed software from Infineon to enable it to build a TPM in its Gbit Ethernet media access controller. Infineon said it is seeking other deals to partner with companies wanting to integrate TPM capabilities into their chips.

Meanwhile, National Semiconductor is planning to put a TPM in its Super I/O chips. And at least one vendor is said to be putting a TPM in its media processing silicon for consumer PCs. Eventually, core logic makers may decide to pull the TPM into their x86 chip sets.

The link for this article located at Internet Week is no longer available.