OMNIKEY Presents CardMan Desktop fingerprint / Smart Card Reader by OMNIKEY Offers New Biometric Fingerprint Technology

WIESBADEN, Germany & LAS VEGAS(ots)–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 14, 2001–OMNIKEY, an innovative supplier of cross-technology smart card readers for business use, will, for the first time, present a read/write-device including a fingerprint sensor at CardTech/SecurTech (May 14 to 17, 2001) in Las Vegas.

By combining biometric identification processes with market-proven CardMan smart card technology, CardMan Desktop fingerprint does not only improve security conditions – it also allows a much easier handling of smart cards in the many areas where they have come to be used.

Developed by OMNIKEY, the biometric smart card reader stands out against ordinary read/write devices based upon smart cards through various innovative product features. From now on, for example, tools like PIN numbers identifying a particular user will not be necessary any more – a fact which minimizes security risks and improves handling processes. As biometric technology works differently, users can dispense with time-consuming administrative procedures every time access has been denied. Moreover, biometric identification, based upon the unique character of unchangeable fingerprints, profits from full legal acceptance.

Biometric identification processes will especially be used for applications which require a high security level, for instance home banking, internet and computer access as well as digital signatures. The target groups for CardMan Desktop fingerprint include manufacturers of personal computers, financial and insurance companies as well as health care organizations and public administrations.

Says Uwe Schnabel, Head of the Biometry Department at OMNIKEY: “The open CardMan Desktop fingerprint architecture provides OEMs and suppliers of biometric systems with an easy support of their own identification algorithms. It also enables integration with applications via standard interfaces such as Bio-API and PC/SC.”

OMNIKEY will launch CardMan Desktop fingerprint 7120 first in a series of biometric products, with distribution via OEMs, system integrators and resellers.

CardMan Desktop fingerprint 7120, at the attractive price of Euro 100, will be available from the third quarter of 2001.

About OMNIKEY:

OMNIKEY AG is the first cross-technology supplier of smart identification and payment devices. The company unifies and leverages leading technologies such as smart card, radio frequency identification (contactless) and biometrics. These technologies are used in the development of secure devices with standard interfaces. The certified products can be integrated into any application and includes smart card readers, smart card terminals and contactless modules. The company is headquartered in Wiesbaden in Germany, with offices and R&D facilities at five other locations.

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