Chip firms ARM and Texas Instruments unite on handset security

TrustZone software promises handset makers and application developers a standard programming interface for security

ARM and Texas Instruments (TI) are teaming up to provide a unified security framework for mobile handsets. The initiative will see TI integrate ARM's TrustZone software and application programming interface (API) into its M-Shield mobile security technology.

The two firms said that common adoption of TrustZone software would give handset makers and application developers a standard programming interface for security in mobile devices. This would make it easier to create secure applications for handsets in future.

“Lack of standardisation in security currently necessitates that protection mechanisms get tailored for individual networks and even specific handsets, an often lengthy and expensive process,” said TI’s marketing director of Cellular Systems, Avner Goren.

ARM's TrustZone technology partitions a handset into secure and non-secure environments, separating sensitive data and security-critical code from the rest of the system. The technology appears in newer ARM processor designs, which are licensed to chipmakers such as TI.

Meanwhile, TI's own M-Shield security infrastructure combines hardware support for functions such as cryptography with an API and software tools for application signing. M-Shield features in TI's Omap chips, which are widely used in phone handsets.

ARM said its TrustZone software was developed to address security while providing a common foundation layer for applications.

TrustZone product manager Tiago Alves said the software was independent of the underlying platform, and so could support chips with other forms of security hardware, not just those with TrustZone hardware extensions.

"There is still a need for security and a common foundation in 'pre-TrustZone hardware' platforms, where the TrustZone software can also be applied and help with the overall security," Alves said.

TI said that ARM's TrustZone software and API would be supported in its Omap 2 mobile chips due this quarter.