Precise Biometrics has received its first US government-related purchase orders for its Tactivo device, a smart casing that adds both smart card and fingerprint authentication to mobile devices.

As a result, the firm is rolling out multiple pilot projects across several US federal government military and civilian agencies.

According to Precise, every federal government employee is issued a smart card credential to be used for identification and access to federal buildings and networks. With the current migration from desktop computers to mobile devices, federal agencies are facing a new challenge: how to apply the same authentication requirements to mobile devices that employees are already required to use on their desktops. Tactivo solves this issue by providing a smart card reader and fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S, and coming soon, the iPad.

The company adds: “The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is as valid in government workplaces as it is in commercial enterprises. With this trend comes an extensive demand for stronger security solutions. Tactivo provides a comprehensive solution to the challenges of authentication and security in an increasingly mobile world.”

“We are excited to see these first orders and pilot projects get underway so widely within the US federal government market,” says Thomas Marschall, the firm’s CEO. “Our breakthrough solution will enable the migration to mobile devices while preserving the necessary security and authentication policies that are required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-12). Because the mandate covers all federal employees, we expect other agencies will also consider deploying Tactivo after seeing the success of these first pilot programmes.”

Precise has already received an order for the devices from one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, but this latest deal suggests the market has even greater prospects.

“This agreement represents the beginning of a very important market for us,” says Marschall.

The firm says more pilot programmes are scheduled to start soon. Once they are successfully completed, it expects Tactivo to be approved for widespread deployment by these federal agencies with subsequent larger purchase orders. These initial orders are expected to start boosting company finances in late Q3 and in Q4 of 2012, and to increase substantially in 2013 and beyond with continued and expanded deployments.