The invention relates to a method for personalization of GSM chips. At least
one subscriber identification character (TMSI) and a card number (ICCID) are stored
in the memory area of said chips in addition to a secret key (KI) and other optional
data for personalization purposes. The invention aims to eliminate an unnecessarily
high degree of complexity linked to management of all card data in an authentication
centre (AC) and to preserve secret chip data in a more secure manner. According
to the invention, final data is only written on the chip when the subscriber logs
into a subscriber network. One advantage is that only initial data is written into
the card enabling the customer to contact the computer centre of the information
provider. During first contact the final data is traded between the card and the
computer centre and written into the card. The computer centre is simply required
to manage cards which have really been issued to customers.