infoTECH Feature

July 30, 2012

Apple Buys Fingerprint Sensor Supplier AuthenTec

iPhone maker, Apple (News - Alert) has agreed to purchase AuthenTec Inc, the maker of fingerprint sensor chips. As a result, the deal will bring new security features to Apple products. As per this report, AuthenTec's (News - Alert) fingerprint recognition and near field communications (NFC) software is used in various smartphones and personal computers, including tablets.

In fact, the report indicates that AuthenTec recently inked a similar deal with Apple's rival Samsung Electronics. It involves AuthenTec QuickSec VPN security software, which will be coming to future Samsung Android phones and tablets.According to Digital Spy, Apple's $8 per share offer for Melbourne, Florida-based AuthenTec was disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It is thought to be worth around $356 million (£225.9m). The report shows that on Thursday, the closing share price for AuthenTec was $5.07. Consequently, the deal represents a premium of 58 percent for AuthenTec, wrote Digital Spy.

The report indicates that AuthenTec, which has Lenovo, Fujitsu (News - Alert), and Dell among its clients, has annual revenue of only about $70 million. Consequently, analysts are speculating that Apple will roll out various biometric features on its iPhones and iPads in future, enabling users to more easily maintain security on its devices. Aside from fingerprint authentification software, AuthenTec also makes technology that helps users securely access virtual private networks (VPNs), which could help Apple in the lucrative corporate market. The Digital Spy report indicates that RIM's BlackBerry (News - Alert) dominates the business market partially due to its security features. Hence, the report suggests that it would be a big selling point for Apple if iPhones and iPads could securely link to corporate networks.

This week, AuthtenTec joined Alcatel-Lucent to support Portugal Telecom (News - Alert) in the launch of ‘Meo Go!’. The new Meo Go! service enables subscribers of Portugal Telecom, the largest communications service provider in Portugal, to use its smartphones and tablets to access content that was previously confined to their TVs and PCs, including 60 live TV channels and video-on-demand.



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Edited by Brooke Neuman
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