A mobile network operator-independent mobile signature service

Electronic signature (e-signature) is an important element in electronic commerce and government applications because it guarantees non-repudiation of transactions. E-signatures generated in a secure signature creation device can be considered legally equivalent to a handwritten signature. Mobile devices based on SIM/USIM cards, which are broadly extended, are the ideal devices to create these e-signatures (named mobile signatures or m-signatures). Furthermore, thanks to m-signatures the development of m-signature-based applications becomes simpler for mobile application/service providers. There are several solutions to create m-signatures. However, current solutions present some problems: either they require that the solution is developed by every mobile network operator or the components to implement it in the mobile handset are too complex. As a solution to these problems we present an m-signature service that is not linked to a mobile network operator and where the client has more control over the signatures to perform them in an easier way. This paper presents the description and analysis of this new m-signature service as well as the prototype that is being tested in the University of Murcia.