Softpro's SignDoc receives certification mark of German Technical Inspection Association Group

TÜV Saarland, a member of the German Technical Inspection Association Group (Technischer Überwachungs-Verein, TÜV) recently certified SignDoc. TÜV Saarland confirms the easy and safe operation of world's leading software for electronic signatures with handwritten signatures. SignDoc was tested in conjunction with the signature tablet SignPad eSignio. The TÜV was testing version 3.1 of SignDoc, the same version which successfully passed the safety audit of the leading processing center for German credit unions, Fiducia, in April 2010.

The comprehensive test was executed according to the list of requirements for "certified software" by tekit Consult Bonn GmbH, the telecommunications / IT specialist of the TÜV Saarland group. The experts agree that customers can be confident that the documents signed at a SignPad and stored in SignDoc are complete, detailed and processed in a secure manner. The electronic signature and the document associated with it are protected against manipulation attempts and fundamental transmission errors have been systematically excluded.

Safe and easy to use

In its very detailed investigation the TÜV checked all relevant steps when applying software and hardware for the electronic signatures: from the installation, operation to the manipulation of signed documents and the data traffic between signature pad and software.

The systematical review included that in SignDoc data cannot be manipulated during the signing process and that SignDoc detects tampering in signed PDF files. The test of the integrity of a document is possible with SignDoc as in common PDF viewers such as Adobe Reader. Another test was carried out with software products that try to capture data from the traffic via USB. The TÜV confirms that sniffing data of the communication between SignPad and SignDoc does not result in recording any usable data but just plain "junk data".

Completely convincing

The seamless interaction of SignPad and Sign Doc could fully convince the testers. SignPads were especially developed to capture handwritten signatures with outstanding data quality. These pads with LC display are the result of the very close partnership in development and sales that Softpro practices since 2000 with the world market leader for pen tablets - Wacom. Hence the signature tablet SignPad eSignio is also known on the market with its technical name "Wacom STU-500".

SignPads rely on the Penabled technology from Wacom. The signature signals are recorded by electromagnetic resonance. This technology allows a very accurate measurement of signature data and the ability to build very robust signature pads where the display are not subject to wear and tear or scratches when very frequently used.

During the signing at the SignPad both the pen's position as well as the intensity of writing pressure is measured very precisely. Hence SignDoc can calculate and compare very precise profiles of coordinates of place and time and the pressure levels. Thus signatures digitized on SignPads and processed with SignDoc offer a high level of proof. Another advantage compared to alternative technologies, is that the sensor does not measure unintended touch by the thumb ball or fingers.

Since its launch in late 2007 Softpro SignPads were sold in tens of thousands. As of mid-2010 SignPads are by far the best-selling pen pads in German and Spanish savings banks. Moreover the wide use of more than 10,000 SignPads in Spanish savings banks in 2009 was awarded the Innovation Prize of the Association of IT security TeleTrusT.

Other recording devices with the same technology as in SignPad

Most Tablet PCs leverage Wacom's Penabled technology, which is also used in SignPads as capturing technology. Several years ago SignDoc was already optimized for use on Tablet PCs and received awards from Microsoft as best application for Tablet PCs on national and international basis. For self-service areas or kiosks are interactive screens recommend Penabled technology as the units of Wacom PL-series. These devices with displays from 15.6" to 21.6" are suited for all those purposes where complex forms should be displayed on screen in full size prior and the signature should be captured on the display.

Serious about the responsibility of a market leader

Softpro invests in a broad foundation for successful long-term customer relationships in numerous national and international bodies to promote the trustworthy digitizing and verification of handwritten signatures. Softpros CEO Heinz Reschke states: "We are frequently ranked as the world's leading provider of systems for the capturing and verification of handwritten signatures. It is reputation that we intend to live up in our every day work. Hence it is our responsibility to share solid knowledge about the technology and their applications in an understandable manner and to develop these technology to the next level. Therefore we engage intensively in selected bodies at national and international level. At the end Softpro's customers benefit from highly qualified consulting and have the opportunity to achieve competitive advantages through sustainable innovation."

The ISO standard for the interchange format for signature data for biometric signatures (ISO / IEC 19794-7 "Signature / Sign Time Series Data") was largely influenced by Softpro's expertise. Softpro's Dr. Christiane Kaplan is known worldwide as one of the most respected experts on biometric data of signatures and their processing. She worked for many years in the field of standardization of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) in the Standards Committee Information Technology and Applications (with NIA) and is active at international level in the bodies of ISO. Dr. Kaplan is also in constant communication with handwriting experts of various organizations such as the Dutch Forensic Institute (NFI).

Since 1999 Softpro is a member of the association for the Promotion of Trustworthiness of Information and Communication Technology TeleTrusT. The expertise of the signatures specialists is reflected among others in the "list of criteria for comparison of biometric techniques. Softpro customer CECA - the Spanish Savings Banks Association - was awarded with the Innovation Prize of the IT security association for the project "Electronic Signing" ("Firma Digitalizada") in 2009. Furthermore Softpro is active member of the Competence Center Electronic Signatures (CCES) of the Association for Organization and Information Systems (VOI) and the German IT industry association BITKOM.

About Softpro

The Softpro Group is the worldwide leading vendor of systems for capture and verification of handwritten signatures. The company is based in Boeblingen, Germany with local subsidiaries in North America (Bear, Delaware), the United Kingdom (London), and Asia-Pacific (Singapore). The group currently employs an international staff of over 60 people, enabling more than 200 companies worldwide to streamline their document and transaction workflows.

With its "eSign Workflow" product line, Softpro provides solutions for securing the authenticity and integrity of documents within electronic processes, such as those required for legal contracts. For this purpose, a unique signature technology is used to extract and evaluate both the static and dynamic (biometric) characteristics of handwritten signatures.

Softpro's "Fraud Prevention Solutions" portfolio provides a holistic approach to detecting and preventing fraud in paper-based processes (such as payment transactions), as well as increasing operational efficiency using signature management and verification solutions.

Please contact for additional information:

Joerg-M. Lenz
Manager PR
joerg.lenz@softpro.de

SOFTPRO GmbH
Wilhelmstrasse 34
71034 Boeblingen
Germany
Phone: +49 7031 6606 0
Fax: +49 7031 6606 66
www.softpro.de

This release was published on openPR.