Precise Biometrics reveals market opportunities

31 May 2006

Precise Biometrics – developer of security technology based on fingerprints and smart cards – is launching a new version of its Precise Match-on-Card. Unlike previous versions which used pattern recognition and proprietary minutia technology, this release uses standardised minutia technology and complies with the US federal government standard, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 378. This standard is a key requirement in implementing the US federal government Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and the Federal Information Processing Standards 201 (FIPS 201).

The Precise Match-on-Card version of the ANSI 378 minutia template is the required template format for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards for hundreds of thousands of US federal government employees and contractors under HSPD-12.

“US government agencies must start issuing PIV smart cards from October this year, and a lot of systems integrators are positioning themselves to be the vendors for these cards,” says Christer Bergman, President and CEO of Precise Biometrics. “The PIV card market provides big market potential for the industry.”

According to the company: “The US federal requirements for ANSI 378 are designed to ensure that all employees and contractors are able to use their badges for identification and access in all government facilities. However, many organisations and government employees are concerned with privacy and security of the template and so Precise Biometrics is offering a Match-on-Card solution that meets ANSI 378.”

“When the strength and security of Precise Match-on-Card technology is combined with the open interoperability of ANSI 378, the result is a powerful privacy-enhancing solution that accomplishes more than mere PIN replacement,” says Christer Bergman. “The Precise Match-on-Card technology adjusted for ANSI 378 takes biometric security and convenience one step further by performing the actual fingerprint match within the tamper-proof environment of a smart card. This reduces the vulnerability of matching on a network-connected device, an external server, or a database – normally considered the weak links in the security chain.”

Precise Biometrics says its ANSI 378 version of Match-on-Card enables agencies to conduct off-line biometrics authentication, using smart card and fingerprint. “Off-line authentication has become an increasing concern with the need for PIV to operate in environments where servers are, or will be, inaccessible, such as post-natural disaster or terrorist attack areas, battlefields, ports, train depots, airports and other transportation facilities,” says the company.

In a separate announcement, Precise Biometrics has also confirmed that it is one of the suppliers to the Qatar National ID card project. The project involves licences for Precise Match-on-Card technology, which will be integrated in the national ID card. The company had already hinted it was involved in the project when it mentioned an order in its Interim Report earlier this year but did not reveal the name of the country. “What is important about this project is that Axalto is selling our Match-on-Card technology in its cards,” says Christer Bergman. “This means more companies are now selling our technology in their cards.”

“We feel strong about the national ID market and contracts are lining up,” says Christer Bergman. We now have contracts for Thailand and Qatar behind other projects are in final negotiations, so there could be a couple more deals before the end of this year.”