This week at FindBiometrics the industry news spanned everything from physical access control to a Canadian bank that is embracing fingerprint and voice authentication for its mobile app. Meanwhile in the featured articles section we entered Law Enforcement Biometrics Month with a review of how strong authentication and identification tech is catching crooks and keeping us safe. We also took a look at the FBI’s Next Generation Identification program which just recently became fully operational.
Starting off with access control news, Entertech Systems (Suprema’s operating partner in the US, UK, Canada and Ireland) announced a partnership with Frontier Security this week. The teaming up has resulted in the integration of Suprema technology, including biometric fingerprint readers, with the Frontier Integrated Platform, a software suite that provides users control of video management, alarm management and monitoring, auditing, reporting and real time response.
Viscount Systems won contracts to secure US government facilities in Florida and New Jersey this week. Awarded by the US Department of Homeland Security, the contracts will see Viscount provide access control technology to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) buildings in both states. The company also scored a $150,000 contract to provide Freedom Access Control and MESH Telephone Entry systems to a 1600-tenant high-rise complex in British Columbia.
Moving to the topic of border control, this week FindBiometrics reported that Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has announced that it’s looking into the possibility of introducing biometric iris-scanning technology as a complement to their current security apparatuses at airports and other such travel facilities. The ICA is asking potential vendors to submit their proposals by October 10th.
Moving on to mobile biometric news, BIO-key announced the launch of a new device that can transform any USB-sporting hardware into a strong authentication machine. The new, compact and low cost fingerprint reader is called SideSwipe, is priced at $34.99 and connects to a device through USB without the use of a cable, offering BIO-key fingerprint recognition to mobile devices like tablets, laptops and other mobile form factors with the proper port. BIO-key has positioned the new authentication device as ideal for banking, retail, enterprise and commercial applications.
In mCommerce this week, Canadian direct bank Tangerine (formerly “ING Direct”) announced that it will install biometric authentication security to its mobile banking services, becoming the first Canadian bank to integrate such technology. The bank’s mobile app will employ Touch ID fingerprint scanning, while a voice recognition service called Voice Authentication, developed by American software firm Nuance Communications, will launch later this year as an additional layer of security for the company’s Voice Banking service.
A new company entered the identity management arena this week in answer to the growing demand for fully integrated biometric solutions in the United States. IDtech360 officially launched its operations as a US distributor of biometric identity and access products.
Finally, NEC Corporation of America announced this week that it has appointed Kevin Hooper as executive vice president. Having been with the company since November 2012, Hooper will lead NEC’s Enterprise business.
Stay posted to FindBiometrics throughout the coming week as we continue to bring you the most important news in identity management and dig deeper into Law Enforcement Biometrics Month. Be sure to follow us on Twitter so you don’t miss a beat.
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October 5, 2014 – by Peter B. Counter and Alex Perala
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