Swisscom and Atrua Partner for Interoperable Biometric Solutions for Mobile Phones
Continue Joint Leadership with Next Generation Standards-Compatible Fingerprint Recognition and Navigation Solution
Barcelona, Spain, February 13, 2007 – Today at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Swisscom Mobile (www.swisscom-mobile.ch) and Atrua Technologies, Inc.(www.atrua.com) announced a co-operation for developing interoperable, standards-based, biometric SIM-card capabilities. This capability opens the door to broad deployment of mobile data services such as ticketing, banking, payments and other transactions utilizing fingerprint recognition to improve security and usability.
Increasing deployment of advanced mobile phone applications and services such as mobile commerce and rising market penetration of smart phones that store valuable business and personal information are driving the need for better security and stronger authentication capabilities. To address the need for strong and convenient authentication, handsets with advanced fingerprint recognition sensors that support these open standards are now entering the European market. To provide its customers the opportunity to experience improved privacy, security, and convenience through fingerprint recognition, Atrua develops methods for interfacing the fingerprint sensor to the SIM using existing, open standards.
Utilizing proven, existing, open standards for representing fingerprints in a format known as a “minutiae template,” the companies have developed an interoperable approach for allowing fingerprint sensors to interact with SIMs, paving the way for mass market deployment of biometric capabilities on mobile phones. Utilizing the SIM as the vehicle for storing biometric information provides users with convenience and privacy, since the user’s biometric information is stored securely on the SIM card, which can be transferred from one fingerprint handset to another.
“We are excited about the potential for fingerprint mobile devices and their ability to support innovative new secure and personalized services for our customers,” said Olaf Schulze, head of external PR, Swisscom Mobile. “The standards-based approach is vital to providing the flexibility and efficiency needed by Swisscom, other network operators, and handset makers, by ensuring that the fingerprint sensor, SIM, and applications are all compatible.”
“Incorporating our made-for-mobile fingerprint solution into this standards-based SIM solution is a big step forward in broadening deployment of the personalization and security benefits of fingerprint sensors,” stated Carl Temme, Atrua’s vice president of marketing.
About Swisscom Mobile
With a market share of 62% of business in force and 69% of new customers in 2005, Swisscom Mobile is the market leader in the Swiss mobile communications sector. In fiscal year 2005, Swisscom Mobile generated net revenue of CHF 4,168 billion and now has more than 4.3 million NATEL subscribers. The company operates a nationwide GSM network (900/1800 MHz), which was enhanced with EDGE in spring of 2005. With HSDPA, Swisscom Mobile is the first network carrier in Switzerland to roll out a turbo network. Launched in February of 2006, it is already about five times faster than a UMTS network. This means its speed is comparable to that of an ADSL connection. Already today, Swisscom Mobile provides coverage of around 90% of the populated area of Switzerland through its UMTS network as well as wireless LAN-Internet access through more than one thousand hotspots.
This unique technology mix is the basis for a comprehensive mobile broadband network that enables high-quality mobile communication services. Swisscom Mobile launched UMTS-based services in November 2004, including live TV and video telephony. Its Mobile Unlimited PC Card supports automatic, seamless and high-speed mobile connections to the Internet.
Natel® subscribers are not only reachable anywhere within Switzerland but, with over 400 roaming partner networks, all over the world.
www.swisscom-mobile.ch
About Atrua Technologies, Inc.
Atrua Technologies, Inc. is the industry’s leading provider of Intelligent Touch Controls™, a new class of user input device that improves ease of use and convenience for advanced applications and services on today’s mobile phones, handheld games and other personal electronic devices. Supported by world-class strategic partners and blue chip investors, the company offers the Atrua Wings™ family of fingerprint touch controls and the VSense™ family of analog touch controls. The Wings family utilizes Atrua’s fingerprint sensor and touch processing software to authenticate users and convert finger movements into user commands. With a broad set of device offerings including TouchDiscs™, joysticks, and multi-directional keys, VSense solutions provide a range of options that designers can match to each application’s unique objectives. All of Atrua’s products are designed for the demanding requirements of mobile phone applications. The company’s backers include BlueRun Ventures, (formerly Nokia Venture Partners), Ericsson Venture Partners, and Hua Hong Group. For more information please visit www.atrua.com.
All Atrua product names are trademarks of Atrua Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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- Contact Information
- Marc Ostrowski
- Director of Marketing
- Atrua Technologies, Inc.
- Contact via E-mail
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