S.I.C. Biometrics Unveils New Consumer Finger Recognition Solution for Apple iPhone 4 and iPad

Montreal-based biometrics solution provider S.I.C. Biometrics Inc. recently rolled-out a new consumer finger recognition solution for Apple iPhone (News - Alert) 4 and iPad at the CARTES Paris 2011 held in Paris, France.

As a provider of innovative biometrics solutions, S.I.C. Biometrics offers biometric fingerprint readers, biometric proximity cards and access control solutions to the commercial and government markets.

Through direct collaboration with Apple (News - Alert) in 2009, S.I.C. Biometrics launched its first unique platform of software and hardware fingerprint reader solutions for the Apple's iPhone 3. Since then, the company has rolled out the iPad version of software and hardware fingerprint reader solutions, in 2010, and now consumer finger recognition solution for Apple iPhone 4 and iPad.

Complementing the company’s existing commercial mobile fingerprint recognition solutions for iPhone and iPad, S.I.C. Biometrics’ latest offering – FID – is the first iPhone 4 casing with fingerprint sensor.

The new FID commercial mobile fingerprint recognition solution allows users to securely access their social media accounts and web-based applications with a simple swipe of a finger, through the SimpleTouch Portal application.

According to a press release, S.I.C Biometrics utilized SmartFinger Film fingerprint sensor technology and software algorithms from IDEX ASA – a Norwegian public company specializing in fingerprint imaging and recognition technology.

IDEX ASA’s SmartFinger Film fingerprint sensor technology and software algorithms have been embedded in the FID’s micro processor, thereby enabling on-device enrollment, template storage and authentication within the very same chip, said officials with S.I.C. Biometrics in the release.

“At S.I.C. Biometrics we strongly believe that personal mobile security solutions should be available to everyone in a simple, efficient and affordable manner. I am proud to say that FID delivers this and more to Apple iPhone4 users around the world,” said Eric Talbot, founder and CEO of S.I.C Biometrics Inc., in a statement.

Ralph W. Bernstein, CEO of IDEX ASA, said in a statement, “IDEX is delighted to be working with S.I.C., a company that is taking a leadership position when it comes to applying state-of-the-art biometric solutions in the mobile area. We see this as a growth market going forward, as modern smartphones and tablets increasingly contain critical and confidential information.”

Apart from FID, S.I.C. Biometrics also offers iFMID (Fingerprint Mobile Identification Device “FMID”) reader series for smart phones. These mobile solutions enhance the effectiveness of multiple applications such as: identity management in civil, criminal and hospital sectors; customs and border control; secure access to data on remote servers; authentication for currency transactions and others; and more.

In related news, BIO-key International, Inc. – a company offering finger biometric identification technology solution – had signed a letter of intent to acquire S.I.C. Biometrics Inc. through a combination of asset purchase and exclusive license arrangements.