With SuisseID, the Confederation is launching the first standardized product in Switzerland for secure electronic proof of identity. Swiss Post is to begin its nationwide rollout of SuisseID in May. The Confederation will be subsidizing part of the purchase price in 2010. SuisseID from Swiss Post will provide public authorities, companies and private individuals with fast access to a secure digital identity. SuisseID provides a simple and secure way for them to access online services and conclude transactions with each other electronically. Thanks to its SwissStick, Swiss Post already boasts the simplest solution on the market for integrating digital identities into useful applications. At the time the new product is launched, the SwissStick will be available with Suisse ID. Applications for signing documents and sending them as electronic registered mail with confirmation of mailing and receipt will also be available.

The Federal Council intends to inject CHF 25 million into this third project as part of its economic stimulus package for the development of the electronic economic area. CHF 17 million has been set aside for the discounted first release of SuisseID for natural persons in a bid by the Confederation to encourage more people to perform their business transactions electronically. SuisseID is to be available as of May.

Integrated solution with SwissStick

As an established provider of digital identities, Swiss Post will offer SuisseID nationwide in accordance with the technical requirements of the Confederation. Natural persons will be able to order SuisseID electronically as of May. The customer can perform the required personal identification procedure at any post office. Swiss Post will be offering its SuisseID in the form of a regular chip card, a mobile key for secure digital communication, or as an integrated solution. The chip can be inserted into a secure USB stick, which has various uses for SuisseID. Applications stored on the stick will enable users to sign documents electronically with legally binding signatures and send them electronically in encrypted form via registered mail.

Flexible solution

In addition to the basic equipment, other individual applications can also be integrated, providing users of Abacus or Crealogix business software solutions with correctly configured direct access to Swiss Post services. Users of the SwissStick with integrated SuisseID will also benefit from greatly simplified login processes for various services. As such, it will also be possible to gain simplified access to electronic postal services. Updates for the SwissStick applications will be made available continuously via the Internet. The SwissStick can be inserted as a mobile device into any PC or laptop. On removing the SwissStick from the USB port, no data traces remain on the devices.

Inexpensive access to digital identities

SuisseID from Swiss Post is aimed primarily at business customers. The solution also targets private individuals who require a digital identity online and wish to communicate securely using this identity. Swiss Post's SuisseID is expected to enter the market in May. As the Confederation is subsidizing part of the purchase price for first releases, interested parties will be able to benefit from a reduced price.