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Here is the IDEX webcast from yesterday morning. It is an excellent 30 minute webcast. Have you ever wondered on how much of a finger a sensor actually sees.
CEO Hemant Mardia presented a business review as at the first half of 2014 on 13 August 2014.
The presentation is available as webcast at this link:
http://webtv.hegnar.no/presentation.php?webcastId=19371566
IDEX ASA presents a business review and its interim report for the first half of 2014 on Wednesday 13 August 2014 at Felix Conference Centre, Aker Brygge in Oslo. The presentation starts at 07:00 PDT.
The presentation will be given in the English language by CEO Dr. Hemant Mardia.
The presentation will be webcasted at this link:
http://webtv.hegnar.no/presentation.php?webcastId=19371566
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What a coincidence! It's at the same time as the BIO-key Q2 Earnings Report Conference Call.
BIO-key partner IDEX announces the first design win for its new mobile touch fingerprint sensor.
GlobeNewswire 8-12-2014
An Asian second tier mobile OEM has selected IDEX for its smartphone flagship model with a launch date scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2014. In line with industry practice, the OEM wishes to remain undisclosed at this stage.
"IDEX has been focussing on commercialising our best-in-class fingerprint sensor technology and leveraging our strong IP for the mobile mass market. We have recently launched and sampled mobile device customers with our swipe sensor and first generation touch sensors and these sensors have received very high interest. Our products are now being evaluated by several mobile OEMs," said Dr. Hemant Mardia, CEO of IDEX. "IDEX is seeing strong demand for small area touch sensor solutions to implement into new flagship mobile device programmes. OEMs are focussed on the user experience afforded by small touch sensors. This design win represents the first commercial selection of IDEX sensors for a smartphone program and is a very important milestone in our business progression," he added.
To support these products into commercial volumes, IDEX has implemented a high-volume manufacturing and supply capability with its partner CrucialTec, who is a leading established fingerprint sensor module integrator for the mobile device industry.
Note: A design win is the decision by an OEM device vendor to incorporate an IDEX sensor component or technology in a product development for a commercial model or models. The IDEX sensor solution is scheduled to be included in the product providing the customer proceeds to launch the device in the market.
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Remember this from March 2014:
IDEX and BIO-key offer a combined solution for secure user identification, leveraging IDEX's best in class fingerprint sensors, a new generation of powerful recognition algorithms, together with proven BIO-key secure multifactor authentication software. The combined solution and IP creates the potential for significant value-added services to be developed with market-leading customers," stated Dr. Hemant Mardia, CEO of IDEX.
U.S. Army seeks information from companies for biometric authentication system project.
By Stephen Mayhew
August 5, 2014
The U.S. Army has posted a “Sources Sought” request seeking information from businesses for market research purposes to help the agency design and develop an emerging biometric authentication system.
The biometric authentication system will be based on non-traditional modalities incorporated in existing Active Authentication research, or in other words, modalities that are made up of a combination of traditional physical, behavioral, or stylometric biometric data.
According to the information notice from the Mission and Installation Contracting Command at the United States Military Academy, “all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.” However, this is not a request for quote or proposal.
In the notice, the agency specifies a number of criteria for all participating companies interested in contributing information.
Vendors are required to build a secure container for a process or group of processes which operate on a local operating system platform for Windows 7 and Windows 8, as well as be able to develop fusion logic that can receive disparate biometric modality feature data from a range of processing modules based on existing Active Authentication research.
Participating companies must also have expertise in developing evaluation frameworks for biometric technologies, along with having previous experience in the independent analysis, testing and evaluation of biometric modalities.
All interested respondents are asked to submit a brief capabilities statement package spanning no more than 10 pages in length which illustrates their ability to perform the research and development criteria listed in the notice.
Participation is strictly voluntary and will close on August 11 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
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http://www.biometricupdate.com/201408/u-s-army-seeks-information-from-companies-for-biometric-authentication-system-project
Sounds like a job for BIO-key!
Anything over $1 million would be fine with me. I believe between the NCR, Experian, and IDX news there will be big revenue ahead; especially the NCR news. I'm hoping NCR is making BIO-key their fingerprint algorithm of choice and will start including it with their biometric ATM's.
Re:Gamco; Can I take it as a good thing that you're posting BIO-key news?
Could you by any chance explain to me in layman terms what InterDigital did for BIO-key that made them customers of Trustonic and perhaps AMD as well.
Does the NCR/BIO-keys news sound as good to you as it does to me, especially in the ATM market area?
Cheers.
DULUTH, Ga. and SAN JOSE, Calif., January 15, 2013 – NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) and PayPal, Inc., an eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) company, today announced an agreement to integrate NCR’s innovative mobile solutions for hospitality and retail with PayPal’s leading digital payment technology. The combination provides restaurants and retailers an easy, powerful way to offer consumers a rich mobile and digital payment experience when buying the goods and services they want.
NCR’s customer base includes 8 of the 10 fastest-growing Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) and fast casual restaurant chains, 1.2 million retail POS systems and more than 100,000 self-checkout units. PayPal’s global customer base includes 117 million accounts, and has forecasted it will process $10 billion in mobile payment volume in
2012.
Initially, NCR and PayPal will integrate PayPal mobile payment options into the recently announced NCR Mobile Pay application and NCR Aloha Online Ordering. Designed for the more than 60,000 restaurant sites using NCR Aloha point-of-sale technology, NCR Mobile Pay enables restaurant patrons with a smartphone to browse their bill, re-order menu items, alert their server, complete surveys and pay. With the new integration, PayPal appears as a payment option and allows consumers greater choice for secure payments alongside credit or debit card options. Consumers will also be able to use the PayPal mobile application to locate and “check in” at participating NCR Mobile Pay merchants to access the same functionality.
The companies are also working to integrate PayPal mobile payment options into NCR’s Convenience-Go (C-Go) application for petroleum and convenience stores. C-Go is a store-branded mobile application that allows shoppers to purchase fuel, food, car washes and other items right from the application. PayPal integration gives C-Go users another easy option for paying at the pump or inside stores with their smartphone while also providing stores with valuable opportunities for targeted up selling and promotions. Additionally, NCR and PayPal plan to enhance NCR’s Netkey Endless Aisle application with PayPal integration to speed up the consumer checkout process for consumers using the solution for online shopping in a physical store and create new revenue opportunities for retailers.
Beyond these initial solutions, initiatives are planned to integrate NCR’s Advanced Marketing Solution (AMS) loyalty and offer management system with the PayPal digital wallet. This integration will enable consumers to “check in” on their mobile devices as they start shopping to take advantage of shopping lists as well as digital redemption of coupons and special offers when they pay.
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Let's hope BIO-key (BKYI) and PayPal are close friends.
May 22, 2013 – NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) today announced that it is working with Jamba Juice, in collaboration with PayPal, on a series of customized mobile solutions, including a Jamba Juice branded iOS® and Android™ mobile ordering and payment solution. This ordering functionality is available today in select Jamba Juice locations via the PayPal app to millions of customers and allows consumers to place mobile orders and pay directly from their smartphone. The customized mobile ordering solution will seamlessly integrate with the NCR Aloha point-of-sale (POS) platform. It is expected to improve speed of service and offer a differentiated experience to Jamba Juice customers, enabling them to skip the line to pick-up their order.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s 2013 Restaurant Industry Forecast, 27 percent of adults and 36 percent of quickserve customers said they would likely use a mobile payment option if offered.
Today, the PayPal app is the way to order ahead in select Bay Area Jamba Juice locations. Based on early success, this collaboration is now entering into the next phase to bring an easy and convenient solution to more people who enjoy Jamba Juice. In addition to integration with the Aloha POS solution, PayPal™ has been integrated, as a payment option, giving Jamba Juice customers another easy way to pay, offering greater choice for secure payment. PayPal is a leader when it comes to mobile and digital payments, processing more than $14 billion in mobile payment volume in 2012.
Interesting fact: Wendy's is actually the Triarc Holding Co.
Triarc acquired Wendy's in 2008 and kept the Wendy's name. They sold off Arby's but kept an 18.5% interest in it. They also sold off their National Propane Company, Mystic Wines, Snapple, Royal Crown, liquefied petroleum gas, and textiles company. They are now focusing on being a food and beverage company.
In 2013 Wendy's had $2.5 billion in revenue and $45 million in income.
Let's hope they're planning a big expansion of NCR POS terminals.
What's significant about Experian is that it's a $4.7 billion global company that is highly focused on customer security.
NCR is a $6 billion global business with over 23,000 employees. Its main products are self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check processing systems, barcode scanners, and business consumables. Now, more than 30 company-owned Papa John's restaurants in northern China are using DigitalPersona's Fingerprint Readers with NCR Advanced Restaurant point-of-sale software to record employee time and attendance, as well as authorize overrides and discounts.
In August 2011, NCR purchased Radiant Systems, a hospitality and retail systems company, for US$1.2 billion. Radiant's hospitality division turned into a new Hospitality Line of Business within NCR. Radiant's petroleum and convenience retail business became part of its retail line of business.
In January 2014, NCR completed its acquisition of Digital Insight Corporation, a provider of online and mobile banking solutions to mid-market financial institutions, from equity firm Thoma Bravo, LLC for $1.65 billion in cash.
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For the near future, NCR might be the best revenue generating contract BIO-key has.
What a pleasant surprise! Because of the latest news about NCR and Wendy's I checked the map to see if any new Wendy's restaurants have opened near me. The closest one was 4 miles away but now one is only about a mile. I called them up and was told they opened just last October. I was also told they use fingerprint readers on their POS terminals. When I go down there I'm hoping they will tell me more about their POS system.
SHANGHAI, China, Apr 09, 2014 – NCR Corporation, the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, announced the appointment of a major channel partner, Shanghai Anmao Information Technology Company, as its reseller for the full range of NCR POS (point-of-sale) solutions, including the NCR SelfServ Checkout.
NCR offers a complete complement of hardware, software and services geared to make every day easier at fueling stations, hypermarkets and supermarkets as well as convenience stores and specialty retailers.
“China represents a tremendous opportunity for NCR to solve problems that matter to retailers and our relationship with Anmao will complement our direct sales force, making our technology solutions accessible to many more retailers here,” said Gerald Huang, general manager of NCR Retail in Greater China, “As a hardware-enabled, software-driven business we have become a one-stop-shop for all things related to consumer transactions in retail. Anmao allows us to greatly extend our reach in China. ”
The China retail market is highly competitive and retailers are looking to deploy advanced and flexible store automation technologies that create a competitive advantage. With a national sales force dedicated to retail and its various market segments, Anmao is the perfect complement to expand NCR software, hardware and services throughout China.
“The relationship with NCR presents a significant opportunity for offering retailers in China proven end-to-end solutions that will add value to their operations and enhance the shopping experience,” said James Zhang, General Manager of Anmao. “Anmao will be providing our local experience, expertise, and our strong understanding of the local market requirements for a very complimentary go-to-market strategy. We are delighted to be working with NCR.”
According to Retail Banking Research, China's installed base of Electronic Point-of-Sale (POS) technology is forecast to double by 2016.
Apart from its retail market presence, NCR also provides consumer transaction technologies for the financial, hospitality and travel industries in China, and operates a manufacturing plant in Beijing. NCR is currently the leading automated teller machine (ATM) provider in China as well as a key self-check-in solution provider for major airlines in China.
About Shanghai Anmao Information Technology Co,LTD
Anmao is a professional retail information technology product and solution provider. The team has more than a decade of experience in retail automation development and services with a strong sales network in China. (www.anmaoinfo.com)
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is the global leader in consumer transaction technologies, turning everyday interactions with businesses into exceptional experiences. With its software, hardware, and portfolio of services, NCR enables more than 485 million transactions daily across retail, financial, travel, hospitality, telecom and technology, and small business. NCR solutions run the everyday transactions that make your life easier.
NCR is headquartered in Duluth, Georgia with approximately 29,000 employees and does business in 180 countries. NCR is a trademark of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
Now would be a great time to buy!!
NCR Expands Relationship With BIO-key(R) for Secure Authentication in Its Retail POS Ecosystem
WALL, NJ--(Marketwired - Jul 28, 2014) - BIO-key International, Inc. (OTCQB: BKYI), a leader in fingerprint biometric identification technologies, cloud- and device-based mobile credentialing and identity verification solutions, today reported that NCR Corporation has expanded its use of integrated BIO-key fingerprint authentication solutions. NCR will expand deployment through several national retail chains, including Wendy's and Arby's, providing for secure and efficient employee access to tens of thousands of POS terminals.
BIO-key eliminates the cost to issue, manage and recover tokens and access cards from a high turnover retail workforce and reduces plastic waste in the environment. NCR is one of the leading providers of retail operations automation technology. The recent purchase, valued at several hundred thousand dollars, validates the impact BIO-key is having at the store level and is part of a series of orders placed during a long and productive relationship. As an OEM of BIO-key software, NCR had previously distributed and deployed over 53,000 BIO-key enabled POS terminals.
"The longstanding relationship with NCR reinforces several elements of BIO-key's reputation in the market, as well as continues to generate significant revenue for the Company," stated Jim Sullivan, VP of Strategy & Business Development, BIO-key. "The expanded utilization demonstrates that BIO-key fingerprint authentication outperforms traditional authentication methods in real-world visible applications; nothing is more mission-critical to a retailer's revenue than the POS. Additionally, sophisticated buyers of biometric technology clearly recognize the benefit of investing in our reliable, high quality and interoperable fingerprint solutions. Our advanced and visionary approach to sensor independent fingerprint technology allowed NCR and its customers to evolve through three different fingerprint scanner suppliers since our relationship began. BIO-key technology makes the identity and authentication life-cycle easier and less expensive to manage; we expect to deliver continued success and to receive additional orders over time."
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Re:SeanBoy; I went back 6 years and the 2nd quarter earnings report has always been released in the 2nd week of August.
Here are parts of an article from appleinsider.com about the IBM/Apple partnership.
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When Apple and IBM announced plans to codevelop new iOS apps and jointly sell and support iPhones and iPad to enterprise customers, the news was greeted as if it were a new experiment. However, the deal is actually an extension of IBM's mobile strategy that has included massive deployments of iOS devices and native apps.
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"The IBM - Apple partnership announced last week was seen as unexpected, but in reality IBM has been one of the biggest users of iOS and Mac products for several years now. What was surprising, however, is that this announcement happened the same week as the news that Microsoft was reducing their workforce by 18,000 (even though mainly effecting Nokia).
"Apple products have been gaining serious market share in the enterprise over the past few years, and now with IBM's added expertise about enterprise needs, we could finally start to see a significant shift in the balance over control of the enterprise IT."
http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/07/24/ibm-began-mass-adoption-of-ios-prior-to-its-exclusive-partnership-with-apple-inc
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It's good to know BIO-key is promoted by both IBM and Apple. IBM uses it in its SSO Tivoli, and Apple has it on it iTunes web page for its customers to download.
Apple POS systems are being installed in all AT&T retail stores and they have been using BIO-key tech in their stores with Fujitsu LifeBooks.
May 10, 2014, Posted by Julie Drummond on iPhonehacks.com
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2014/05/easypay-pos-system-apple-stores-switching-ipod-touch-iphone-5s.html
Apple started using the EasyPay checkout system in its retail stores starting in 2009. The system uses an iPod touch with a sled attachment that provides each device with a barcode scanner and a magnetic strip reader for processing credit cards.
Apple may be migrating to an advanced sled that provides RFID capabilities, a keypad for PIN input with debit card sales and support for Passbook scanning. The new system also has been updated to work with iOS 7.
In a memo to employees, Apple notes that the new hardware doubles battery life, adds a 2D bar code scanning, improved network connectivity, and “makes just about everything easier.” Apple adds that the updated software adds improved personal pickup that adds a bar code to the confirmation screen in the Apple Store app allowing employees to quickly scan and bring up orders using their EasyPay unit.
The reason why the company is switching to the more expensive iPhone 5s is not clear, but it’s possible that the new system could benefit from the faster hardware of the iPhone 5s. Touch ID could provide employees with faster logins to the payment system or as a way for customers to authorize their purchase. The iPhone 5s also supports calling, allowing employees to make a support call without requiring them to carry a second device.
Apple allegedly is rolling out the iPhone 5s units in select Apple stores nationwide with the goal of equipping all US stores with the updated POS platform in the next few weeks.
BIO-key responds to Apple / IBM partnership.
The Apple / IBM Partnership is a Validation of BIO-key’s Vision
Posted by Jim Sullivan
The Apple / IBM partnership is a great validation of BIO-key’s vision and ambidextrous device plus cloud approach.
Why?
Because the Apple-IBM partnership is all about the tighter integration of IBM data analytic services and apps with Apple’s devices, design capabilities, and most importantly, cross-device continuity for business services.
The new Apple Swift development platform seamlessly moves a user between mobile and a desktop or tablet, blurring of the lines between device, thus I can start a task on my mobile and pick up that task in context on my desktop.
This emphasizes the importance of authentication also spanning devices seamlessly, and validates our vision for biometric authentication in the cloud, not limited to inside the device. Only by ensuring that a consistent biometric authentication experience is available across devices can true continuity be assured.
With IBM focusing on security of the set of apps, it makes natural sense for Apple to allow enterprise access to the Touch ID fingerprint scanner through an IBM sanctioned secure biometric platform.
Now, who has an IBM sanctioned biometric cloud platform with bulletproof patent protection on transport of biometrics and interfacing with a trusted element to do so? You guessed it – BIO-key does.
Remember that cloud-capable and cloud-backed biometric authentication does not imply that a device cannot be performing local authentication using FIDO where appropriate, but rather that it can and must do both well. That’s BIO-key’s sweet spot!
Thank you IBM and Apple.
- See more at: http://blog.bio-key.com/?p=253#sthash.ChjQZXAn.dpuf
BIO-key(R) International, Inc. and Experian(R) Collaborate to Offer Enhanced ID Verification Through the Use of Biometrics
WALL, NJ--(Marketwired - July 22, 2014) - BIO-key International, Inc. (OTCQB: BKYI), a leader in fingerprint biometric identification technologies, cloud-based mobile credentialing and identity verification solutions, today reported the company is entering into a strategic relationship with Experian Public Sector. BIO-key's fingerprint-based biometric identification technology along with Experian's existing suite of identity verification products will greatly expand access to identity proofing for those authentication transactions requiring the highest level of assurance. "By adding BIO-key's world class technology to our industry-leading suite of fraud solutions which includes Precise ID, Experian customers will be able to positively ID an enrolled individual during face-to-face encounters, online via the internet or by mobile devices when speed and efficiency are paramount. The overall identification process which operates seamlessly across dozens of heterogeneous, low-cost fingerprint scanners, will add an additional level of scrutiny for transactions that require compliance with NIST 800-63 guidelines at level of assurance 4," said Philippe de Raet, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Alliances for Experian Public Sector. "We believe that the growing interest in mobile fingerprint authentication positions BIO-key and Experian to capitalize on the strengths of each in adding the key element of trust to any authentication process requiring the strongest level of assurance," stated Mike DePasquale, BIO-key Chairman and CEO. "The opportunity for relying parties to leverage Experian and a cloud based biometric ID verification prior to enrolling an individual in a biometric ID process of their own establishes an unprecedented root of trust to all subsequent activity." BIO-key technology is positioned as an additive layer of authentication capability for Experian customers seeking to incorporate fingerprint biometric authentication. Together, we deliver streamlined multi-factor ID proofing services and fraud prevention through the combined strength of the two market leaders. Target markets include fraud-rich environments such as Government, Healthcare and Banking and the joint offering will enhance the authentication process for benefits eligibility of constituents in markets calling for trustworthy ID with both an in-person and online touch point.
About Experian Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft. Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US$4.8 billion. Experian employs approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and S?o Paulo, Brazil. For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.
Great article by Biometric Update reporter Adam Vrankulj. Morpho and BIO-key fused their fingerprint algorithms for this contract.
November 4, 2013 -
Representing a $1.2 billion investment by the U.S. federal government, the FBI’s massive Next Generation Identification (NGI) program is a ten-year lifecycle project that hinges on biometric identification technologies and has seen privacy advocates butt heads with law enforcement since its inception.
Split into six “increments,” Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract in 2008 to design, build and implement the program on behalf of the FBI, which ultimately aims to enhance the abilities of the agency’s aging IAFIS from the mid-nineties.
BiometricUpdate had a chance to talk with the FBI about what the program entails, how it works as well as some next steps for this controversial project.
Increment Zero: Workstation Replacement
Increment zero went live in 2008 and was an overall “tech-refresh” of IAFIS workstations, replacing obsolete hardware with new high-definition monitors, as well as the introduction of modular and replaceable infrastructure for examiners.
Increment One: Ten-print processing
Increment one, which went live in 2011 enhanced the agency’s ability to perform back-end processing of ten-print fingerprint data from IAFIS, using algorithms from MorphoTrak, a subsidiary of Morpho. This initially saw a 92.6 percent accuracy rate, though according to Art Ibers, director of criminal justice solutions for Lockheed Martin, the NGI is now 99.6 percent accurate in this regard.
“We had increment one and IAFIS side-by-side for five days, and in those five days, the NGI identified 910 additional matches that the legacy system missed,” Ibers said. “We immediately saw value.”
This was an important increment in establishing the NGI, as ten-print records have been collected widely for years at local, state and federal levels, so there was a large dataset to begin with. Now, synced at a national level, law enforcement agencies say they’re seeing results.
According to Clark Nelson, a senior VP of Marketing at MorphoTrak, the company continues to invest heavily into research and development for improving its processing algorithms as even minor adjustments lead to significant improvements when dealing with big data.
“If you think about it, when you’re talking about databases of tens of millions – or upwards of hundreds of millions of records – and about thousands of searches per day, an extra tenth of a percent in accuracy can lead to hundreds of new matches,” Nelson said. “Even though [our algorithms] are 99 percent accurate already, we strive to go beyond that.”
Re: bobmick; No sé nada de "The Beluga"
Re:dontgiveup65; In a previous post I failed to mention that Apple would of course also need BIO-key tech on their desktop and laptop computers.
IBM customers use Microsoft and Computer Associates software. IBM, Microsoft, and CA use BIO-key tech in their Single Sign-On applications. Apple customers use BIO-key tech, that is why BIO-key's WEB-key Client is on Apple's iTunes web page. The IBM, Apple partnership should be really good news for BIO-key (BKYI).
I worked over 30 years for corporations that used IBM Enterprise Mainframe computers. The desktops we used had Windows OS and ran Computer Associate applications ( such as CA7 and Jobtrack) for managing computer jobs running on the IBM Mainframe. We processed over 2,000 computer jobs per shift.
I would think that if Apple was working with IBM they would have to have BIO-key tech on their mobile devices.
From the SFGate, July 15, 2014.
Apple and IBM, at various points rivals and allies for control of the desktop computer market, became partners again Tuesday in a deal to create more than 100 mobile apps designed specifically for use in businesses.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Apple and IBM said they would develop a class of "industry-specific" business apps designed from the ground up for Apple's iPhone and iPad.
IBM will provide cloud services tailored for Apple's iOS mobile operating system, "including device management, security, analytics and mobile integration," a joint press release said.
And IBM will sell iPhones and iPads to business clients around the world.
Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies of San Jose said, "The big knock on Apple has been that they were not serious about the enterprise. That is not the case now. With IBM, they can attack it head on and IBM will be there to sell and support the devices and make it easier for enterprises to integrate iOS devices into their overall IT program."
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I'm sure glad IBM uses BIO-key in their Tivoli SSO application.
Card Tech and IDEX partner for high-volume biometric card solutions and Card Tech places initial order for sensors to IDEX
Published on 15 July 2014
IDEX ASA has received an initial order to deliver fingerprint swipe sensors to Card Tech srl. The sensors will be integrated into Card Tech’s biometric cards for the access control and ID markets. The biometric cards will be manufactured by Card Tech’s first-tier production partner.
Card Tech’s patented ISO-compliant system-on-card solution will use IDEX’s flexible best-in-class swipe sensor, based on our patented two part SmartFinger technology which is ideally suited for integration into cards. IDEX’s delivery will include its market-leading algorithms capable of operating in the low-power, highly efficient processors that are required for such embedded applications.
Biometric cards is one out of three strategic mass markets for IDEX. IDEX’s strategy is to leverage its core technology across three mass markets; mobile devices, biometric cards and devices being part of Internet of Things. Card Tech is addressing the market for access control and ID cards, subsequently cards for use in banking and other financial applications.
“Based on multiple international expressions of interest we expect to open a significant market opportunity,” said Fabrizio Borracci, CEO of Card Tech. “Our partnership with IDEX started in 2011 and Card Tech aims to offer supreme biometric performance in ISO-standard cards. Initially we will serve the access control and ID markets, subsequently the banking and financial cards market. We have secured a first-tier manufacturing partner possessing facilities and expertise to ramp up production to large scale.”
“We are very pleased that our partnership with Card Tech is now moving on to the commercialization phase. Our bendable and thin SmartFinger sensor enables Card Tech to deliver a robust product suitable for mass production with its mass production partner,” said Hemant Mardia, CEO of IDEX. He added, “We have recently seen a significant increased interest in card solutions enabled by secure fingerprint biometrics, and Card Tech’s first-tier production partner is joining the project because it sees the magnitude of the potential market.”
On Tuesday, the U.S Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approved funding legislation for the fiscal year of 2015. The total funding rings in at $47.2 billion, with slices going towards border control and the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM).
This newly approved number is $643 million above the previous figure for 2014. The increase, when taken in context with the DHS discretionary appropriations since 2010, still fits with a decreasing trend, funding having declined 8.3 percent over the past five fiscal years.
Of the $47.2 billion, $249 million is being provided to the Office of Biometric Identity Management. This figure is $2 million below the requested amount, but still marks a $22 million increase over fiscal year 2014.
According to the bill’s summary, the funding provided to OBIM will help “assure national security, public safety and the integrity of our immigration laws. By sharing real-time biometric and identity data between the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Defense and State we can monitor who legally enters and exits the country.”
IDEX sports a deep bench with the two co-founders from Validity at IDEX, also ex-CEO of Authentec (now Apple) on the board, giving IDEX and partner CY added knowledge of FP. IDEX expects its area sensors in early 2015 to deliver 30-50% lower ASP solutions with similar performance to existing FP, with the next gen driving much better performance and an objective to garner 30% share in non-Apple handsets - a tailwind for IDEX and CY into 2015-16.
Point #1 -Who is IDEX-A strong and deep technology bench of biometrics innovation with both the co-founders of Validity, ex-Validity VP of software and sales at IDEX and the ex-CEO of Authentec serving on the board at IDEX, all driving a deep brain trust. Patent Protection - IDEX has strong IP, has defended its FP IP against STMicro and won, which resulted in the Apple (Authentec) cross licensing agreement, further validating the IP. With such a strong bench we would expect IDEX to understand its value proposition and the CY FP road map. Note Validity was acquired by SYNA in 2013, while Authentec is now part of Apple. IDEX noted it is already working with 15 handset OEMs on FP Sensors and focusing on Tier-1 handset insertion.
Point #2- A Significantly Lower Cost Solution vs. Current Incumbents - IDEX sees the cost of its sensor module, expected in 2015, to be 30-50% lower than current FP solutions, driving significant BOM savings. (Note current FP sensor module solution ASP estimates range from $2 to $4.) IDEX noted that its road map provides off-chip sensing, separating the silicon ASIC and the sensor, or flex polymer, which competitors do not do, which significantly reduces the cost and increases performance (false accept/reject and speed/angle of sensing) with significant IP that drives performance better than current swipe or stretch
swipe sensors expected. IDEX also says the next generation of FP sensors, which it has already demonstrated (expected release date 2015), would build the sensing capabilities directly into a glass cover, eliminating the need for cover glass and thus eliminating the need for interface buttons, another cost reduction.
Point #3-Head and Shoulders above the Competition - IDEX noted that its IP portfolio provides: 1) the most robust accept/reject sensors on the market and 2) much better signal/noise and common mode noise reduction versus other solutions. IDEX also noted competitive solutions from NEXT for niche access control devices, and smaller Asia-Taiwan competitors lack specific IP and have a touch background. The FP sensor drives 1000x higher sensitivity versus a touch sensor and higher cost-performance levels versus Touch, which puts many of the Asian-Taiwanese players entering from the touch market at a distinct disadvantage.
Full article from Sternegee:
http://www.idex.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SterneAgee-CR_CY_2014-06-26.pdf
LEE, MA, Nov 15, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Wave Systems Corp. WAVX -2.13% 's Virtual Smart Card offering has been named winner of the Government Security News' (GSN) Homeland Security Award competition in the "Best Smart Card Solution" category. This is the second consecutive year that Wave has won this award.
"We're honored to be recognized by Government Security News as the only vendor offering a complete virtual smart card solution for today's enterprise -- and, importantly, one that is compatible with Windows 7, 8 and 8.1," said Bill Solms, CEO of Wave Systems. "We see virtual smart cards as a disruptive technology in the user authentication market, offering a more secure and cost effective alternative over more mature technologies."
Virtual smart cards emulate the functionality of traditional smart cards, but offer added security and cost benefits. Businesses do not incur added material or operational costs (such as the purchase and shipping of external physical smart cards and smart card readers) because virtual smart cards are built into the device itself. Because of an embedded security chip called a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which is standard equipment on business PCs, virtual smart cards cannot be lost or stolen. Additionally, enterprises gain the added security afforded by hardware-based security, ensuring that only known devices and known users are allowed access to corporate resources. Convenience is another benefit -- employees never have to type domain credentials into their devices, improving user experience and reducing the time IT spends resetting forgotten passwords, while offering protection against credential theft.
"We judged an outstanding group of entries this year," said Adrian Courtenay, Managing Partner, Government Security News. "We're proud to announce that this year's winners will be showcased in a digital edition of Government Security News, which will reach more than 40,000 subscribers -- a well-deserved honor for Wave Systems and all of this year's award recipients."
Sponsors for GSN's 2013 homeland security awards program included BRS Labs, Cardinal Point Strategies, Objectivity, Vanguard Integrity Professionals and Wave. For a complete list of finalists and pre-emptive winners, visit: www.gsnmagazine.com
IDEX ASA has appointed Michael Barrett, president of the FIDO Alliance, and formerly Chief Information Security Officer at PayPal, to the company's Strategy Advisory Council. FIDO is an industry consortium dedicated to improving online authentication by developing and promoting technical specifications that define an open, scalable, interoperable set of mechanisms that reduce the reliance on passwords to authenticate users.
"Fingerprint authentication is the biometric ID of choice for many applications," said Michael Barrett. He added, "IDEX has presented a technology roadmap that may transform the market for fingerprint sensors as part of the online payment ecosystem, and I look forward to be part of a very exciting process in terms of technology and mass volume implementation."
Mr. Barrett was until 2013 the Chief Information Security Officer of PayPal, a major Internet payment services company for online vendors. He has also held senior positions at several other major corporations, including Vice President of Security and Privacy at American Express.
Previously Mr. Barrett also headed the Liberty Alliance, an open-standards consortium focused on identity management standards and guidelines. He has received numerous industry recognitions and was named 'Information Security Executive of the year' by Tech Exec Networks in 2010.
Dr. Hemant Mardia, CEO of IDEX stated, "We are thrilled to have Michael as a key adviser to IDEX. He is widely recognized as a driving force and leading voice on, mobile payment, information security and open standards. We are certain to benefit from his guidance in our strategic product and business development to support the rapidly growing demand for fingerprint based secure authentication and convenient mobile payment solutions."
Larry Ciaccia, head of IDEX's Strategy Advisory Council added, "Fingerprint based authentication is rapidly evolving into a standard feature on high volume mobile devices. As the feature penetrates a broader payment and authentication ecosystem, the knowledge and experience that Michael brings will be invaluable to IDEX. I look forward to working with Michael to help evolve the compelling roadmap of IDEX into an integral part of industry adopted solutions such as FIDO."
The Strategy Advisory Council advises IDEX on market, technology and strategic trends in the rapidly developing mass market for fingerprint sensors. Larry Ciaccia, formerly CEO of AuthenTec, the leading fingerprint sensor vendor for volume markets, heads the council. The other members of the council are Dr. Hemant Mardia, Fred Benkley and Dr. Ralph W. Bernstein.
CrucialTec, the company currently supplying fingerprint scanners to Samsung, announced on Wednesday that it has developed a new algorithm for small area-type fingerprint scanning sensors, which it is naming “Fermion”.
First up, this means that CrucialTec looks set to move away from its swipe-based BTP algorithm, which is used in the Galaxy S5’s fingerprint scanner and resembles older laptop designs. Instead, the company is moving over to an area based design, more akin to the technology that Apple uses in the fingerprint scanner found in the iPhone 5S. The immediate benefit being that CrucialTec’s new algorithm should be able to detect the user’s fingerprint regardless of orientation and without the need to swipe.
CrucialTec is not just moving over to a new algorithm though, the company is also planning to produce new ultra-slim embedded biometric modules, which will enable the production of a much greater variety of sensors. Thinner, oval, circle, and rectangle designs will all be possible, and they could find their way into a much greater range of devices. To top off the improvements, CrucialTec’s next generation sensors will come with improved biometric recognition and rejection rates too.
If Samsung chooses to stay with CrucialTec for its future fingerprint scanning modules, we might well see Samsung make the switch over to area-based biometrics in its next flagship smartphone.
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From February 21, 2014
IDEX ASA, a world leader in fingerprint imaging and recognition technology, today announced that the previously undisclosed mobile communications partner is CrucialTec Corp., a global leader in mobile input solutions, part of the Crucial Family with headquarters and public listing in South Korea. The combined strengths of the two companies offers major smartphone and mobile device manufacturers IDEX’s best in class sensors, strong patent protection together with CrucialTec’s long established mass manufacturing, industrial knowhow and cost efficient supply to multiple end customers. CrucialTec is a world leader in the supply of Biometric Track Pads based on fingerprint sensing to the mobile market. The partnership addresses the growing demand for next-generation biometric solutions that advance security and provide ease-of-use for mobile end users. IDEX and CrucialTec have been working together intensively to develop and industrialize new fingerprint authentication solutions for rapid market introduction.
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From March 31, 2014
WALL, NJ and OSLO, NORWAY - BIO-key International, Inc. (OTCQB: BKYI) and IDEX ASA (OSE: IDEX) have entered into a license agreement and will collaborate to deliver a sensor-to-server infrastructure solution for trustworthy, yet simple and low-cost, in device and online authentication for consumer applications and in particular the smartphone, tablet, and PC markets. The software and hardware combination will be capable of delivering the most accurate, flexible and cost-efficient fingerprint biometric solutions available. BIO-key is a global leader in fingerprint biometric identification solutions, advanced mobile authentication and identity assurance technologies and IDEX is a leader in low cost, high quality fingerprint sensor technologies.
Oslo, Norway 11 June 2014: World Wide Touch Technology (Holdings) Limited (WWTT) showcases its FingerQ product line with fingerprint sensors from IDEX ASA at the Mobile Asia Expo in Shanghai this week. The FingerQ is a smart biometric device security system consisting of a range of mobile peripherals and a proprietary secure software solution.
Further to the initial volume order for fingerprint sensors in January 2014 placed by WWTT on IDEX, WWTT and IDEX have collaborated to design in the IDEX fingerprint sensor into the FingerQ product line. This is expected to underpin volume shipments in second half of 2014.
"This fingerprint sensor solution offers enhanced user experience in a small form factor and is ideal for integration into the FingerQ biometric security system," said Dr. Hemant Mardia, CEO of IDEX. "We are pleased to be integral to this showcase launch by WWTT."
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I hope BIO-key's agreement with IDEX announced on 03/31/14 will get them a contract with WWTT.
Just for clarification, for those that didn't know this, L-1 Identity Solutions was acquired by Safran in July 2011 and is a now part of the Morpho Trust department.
Cypress and IDEX Partner To Develop Advanced Biometric Fingerprint Recognition.
05/27/2014 - Cypress Semiconductor Corporation announced that is has entered into a strategic partnership with IDEX ASA: a company specializing in fingerprint imaging and recognition. The agreement will see Cypress offering biometric fingerprint solutions to its customers in addition to its usual touchscreen and touch-sensing controllers.
According to Cypress, the biometric addition to its portfolio is going to allow for the streamlining of design and personal security. Smartphones, tablets, wearable tech and smart cards will all be applications for this new next gen design mandate.
This partnership was born out of a growing demand for security in an age of constant connectivity. With mobility taking center stage thanks to innovations in high speed wireless technology (4G, LTE, etc.), wearable tech, smartphones and tablets, the kind of information being transferred is highly personal and confidential. Financial information in mobile banking, smartphone enabled payments and confidential business data are now extremely accessible for the end user wherever they are, but with easy access comes great responsibility.
IDEX fingerprint technology allows the controller to be separated from the capacitive sensing area. This results in a high performance security solution, centered on fingerprint biometrics that are compact and flexible enough for mobile device integration. Biometric technology has emerged as the mobile defender of choice.
Through this strategic partnership, Cypress will also be working with IDEX’s existing sensor partners. This is hoped to achieve a fast productions pace, bringing mobile biometric solutions to market quickly without sacrificing performance quality.
Hassane El-Khoury, executive vice president of the programmable solutions division at Cypress praises the partnership saying: “With the robust fingerprint recognition IP from IDEX, and with the support and broad adoption of our extensive capacitive touch-sensing product portfolio, our new fingerprint solutions will address a broad range of mobile and Internet-connected product platforms for our customers. We envision a very strong product roadmap that will meet the rapidly growing demand for personal security.”
“We are excited to work with Cypress to develop next-generation fingerprint-sensing products that will leverage their touch technology leadership and strong position in the mobile market with IDEX advanced fingerprint sensing technology,” adds IDEX CEO Hemant Mardia. “The quickly emerging market for wearables and the Internet of Things will also represent a significant additional opportunity for our new solutions.
IDEX recently partnered with BIO-key International. findBIOMETRICS had a chance to talk to Hermant Marida and BIO-key CEO Michael DePasquale in an exclusive interview touching on the increasingly mobile future of biometrics.
Visa joins the FIDO Alliance.
Mountain View, CA. and New York, NY – May 20, 2014 –
The FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance (www.fidoalliance.org), an industry consortium revolutionizing online authentication with standards for strong authentication, today announced that Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), the global payments technology company, has joined the FIDO Alliance and been appointed to the Board of Directors. Visa Europe will join the alliance as a sponsor member and will be represented on the board by Visa Inc.
“Strong authentication is vitally important as the future of payments becomes increasingly mobile and digital,” said Mark Nelsen, head of risk products and business intelligence, Visa Inc. “As payment technologies continue to advance, an open, scalable and interoperable framework will support a move away from simple, static password-based authentication and towards more advanced methods that will improve security as well as enable more frictionless, convenient commerce.”
“With the addition of Visa to the FIDO Alliance board, our leadership includes the world’s leading payments networks and services providers. Though FIDO specifications are not currently designed to address all aspects of secure payments, it’s clear that payments technologies and services are fundamental to the development of better authentication that is capable of overcoming the risks and limitations associated with password dependencies that date back a half century,” said FIDO Alliance president Michael Barrett. “We welcome Visa to the FIDO Alliance board and to the forefront of stronger and easier-to-use authentication.”
Here's an interesting statement from the article in the previous message considering Wave has a relationship with both companies.
"Although lackluster PC sales and European headwinds remain concerns, the improving revenue stability boosts SanDisk's competitive position against the likes of Micron Technology Inc. (MU)."
WidePoint Corporation is an American company based in McLean, Virginia that provides technology-based products and services to the government sector and commercial markets in the United States. The company holds a patent for a digital parsing tool that allows users to access accounts through a secure repository gateway, established using asymmetric authentication employed as public key infrastructure (PKI). WidePoint provides smart card identity verification, wireless expense management, penetration testing and other IT devices and services. WidePoint’s subsidiary ORC is an authorized certification authority (CA) for the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
WidePoint was incorporated in Delaware on May 30, 1997 and has grown through mergers between IT consulting firms. Currently, the company is composed of three business groups offering Wireless Mobility Management, Cybersecurity solutions and consulting services.
Most of WidePoint’s government client base is located in the Mid-Atlantic region. WidePoint currently holds contracts with the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as many government contractors and private corporations.
Yes, that was one of the important statements made, IBM being upgraded to easily handle mobile device logon's using BIO-key tech. I didn't entirely understand the statement, but that was what it sounded like to me.
Just finished listening to the Webinar presentation. It was very informative. It included info about numerous BIO-key projects and ongoing business. It makes me even more optimistic about BIO-key's future.
A great interview with BIO-key & IDEX.
Earlier this month BIO-key International announced a partnership with IDEX in a commitment to mobile strong authentication. Peter O’Neill, president of findBIOMETRICS (fB) had a chance to speak with both Michael DePasquale, CEO of BIO-key and Hemant Mardia, the CEO of IDEX about the current state of mobile biometrics.
http://findbiometrics.com/mobility-rules-an-interview-with-bio-key-and-idex/
CC information on AT&T was really good news. AT&T uses IBM Enterprise computers that use IBM SSO software (Tivoli) and AT&T is thinking about using BIO-key at their corporate level. And they are still rolling out BIO-key tech in their retail stores.