FIPS 201 Certification of UPEK Silicon Fingerprint Sensors Initiates Next Generation Solutions for Government Biometric ID Applications

EMERYVILLE, CA – October 16, 2006 – UPEK®, Inc., the world’s leading brand of fingerprint authentication security solutions, today announced that the recent GSA and FBI certification of its TouchChip® TCS1 silicon fingerprint sensor as a Single Fingerprint Capture Device for FIPS 201 applications has enabled biometric solution providers to develop a new generation of low cost, compact and power efficient physical, logical and mobile access control devices that also meet the government’s biometric technology standards.  UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor is the first and only silicon fingerprint sensor to be approved by the FBI and GSA for FIPS 201 applications, which mandates millions of U.S. government employees and contractors be issued fingerprint biometric ID cards for access to buildings and computer networks.  The TouchChip TCS1 sensor’s low cost, compact size and power efficiency enables a wide range of applications previously not practical when using older and more expensive optical fingerprint technology.  Below are some of the partners supporting UPEK’s certified TouchChip TCS1 silicon fingerprint sensor in their solutions:

• Bioscrypt is integrating the TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor in its biometric PIV Physical Access Control (PAC) readers. After reading a PIV card and fingerprint image, the PIV PAC reader ensures the template stored on the card matches the live finger before granting someone access to a building or facility.  “UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 sensor works very well with our certified ANSI 378 minutia algorithm,” said Colin Soutar, CTO Bioscrypt Inc.  “By integrating UPEK’s certified, low cost sensors, we are able to provide a cost-effective platform for physical access control that enables government agencies to comply with new regulations and to quickly achieve a Return on Investment.”   Bioscrypt is also integrating UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor into its VeriSoft Access Manager software application to support logical access applications under FIPS 201.  

• “Cherry already integrates the TouchChip TCS1 sensor into various fingerprint and smart card keyboards,” said Phillip Kirsch, Sales Manager for Cherry Electrical Products.  “To be able to extend our portfolio to the HSPD-12 market with a desktop friendly product that combines a keyboard with number pad, a PIV compliant smart card reader, and a certified fingerprint capture device from UPEK allows Cherry to deliver a single multifunctional device that can be used for all types of network authentication requests using PIV cards.  The TouchChip TCS1 sensor allows for this technology to be integrated into our existing platforms, and delivers excellent value and security to our government customers through our integrators and VARs.”

• Cogent Systems (Nasdaq: COGT) is extending its support of the TouchChip TCS1 sensor to include UPEK’s FIPS 201 certified fingerprint sensor for HSPD-12 applications.  “Being the only FIPS 201 certified silicon sensor clearly differentiates UPEK from other providers,” said Ming Hsieh, President and CEO of Cogent Systems.  “We believe the combination of Cogent’s ANSI 378 certified algorithms, with the cost and size advantages of the TouchChip TCS1 sensor, offer government customers a new value point in certified biometric authentication applications for logical and physical access control.  Cogent has already had initial success using the TouchChip TCS1 sensor in several products and we continue to see increasing opportunities in this market.”

• mobID, Inc. has developed a rugged multi-biometric Handheld Biometric Computer terminal for the government market, including FIPS 201 applications. mobID has chosen to integrate the FIPS 201 certified TouchChip TCS1 sensor for their fingerprint capture requirements.  “After a review of options for fingerprint sensor partners in the mobile handheld terminal market, mobID is pleased to select the FIPS 201 certified TouchChip TCS1 silicon fingerprint sensor as our Single Fingerprint Capture Device for our secure rugged magnesium  Handheld Biometric Computer.  The low cost, small size and low power consumption of UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor, combined with being the only FBI certified silicon fingerprint sensor, and the sensor’s excellent quality reputation made our selection of the TouchChip TCS1 quite easy,” said Matthew Schnedl, CEO of mobID.

• “NEC Corporation of America has had good success with the TouchChip TCS1 sensor for some time now,” said William Bartlett, Product Line Manger at NEC Corporation of America.  “Now that UPEK has a FIPS 201 certified silicon fingerprint sensor, it allows NEC to extend our support of that sensor into the Civil AFIS market, where NEC’s ANSI 378-compliant algorithm has already been certified by NIST.  We will continue to support the TouchChip TCS1 sensor across multiple applications, and believe the cost, size and power advantages of UPEK’s certified TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor will open new applications.”

• Precise Biometrics has integrated the TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor into the Precise 250 MC combined fingerprint and smart card reader.  Precise Biometrics leverages their ANSI 378 minutia algorithm along with Precise Match-On-Card™ technology to protect privacy. The Precise 250 MC authenticates PIV cardholders to protect access to computers and networks. “UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensor delivers high image quality across a broad range of people, enabling the Precise 250 MC to work reliably for biometric authentication of Federal employees and contractors,” said Christer Bergman, President and CEO of Precise Biometrics. “Having worked together successfully to enable national ID programs, Precise Biometrics is pleased to expand our relationship with UPEK to bring this high quality, cost effective PIV and FIPS 201 solution to the US government market.”

• SecuriMetrics, an L-1 company, recently announced a $10m DOD contract for their HIIDE portable multi-biometric device, which uses the TouchChip TCS1 sensor.  "SecuriMetrics chose the TouchChip TCS1 sensor because we were impressed with the size, image quality and performance of the device. The TouchChip TCS1 sensor was the product that met all of our demands and needs for the HIIDE,” said Greg Peterson, President of SecuriMetrics. "The TouchChip TCS1 sensor has proven itself over the past year in numerous field trials, and was a positive factor in helping us to win a large DOD contract.  We are pleased to have selected the TouchChip TCS1 sensor for our application."

"The market for FIPS 201 programs is estimated to grow from $115m in 2007 to $625m in 2012," said Bridget Driscoll, Consultant at International Biometric Group.  "Government customers are looking to deploy biometric solutions for large-scale ID management initiatives such as HSPD-12, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Real ID and other Civil ID applications.  Solutions that meet these initiatives’ technical requirements while lowering device costs will accelerate adoption in the marketplace."  

“We are pleased the low cost, compact size and power efficiency benefits of UPEK’s FIPS 201 certified TouchChip TCS1 fingerprint sensors have been recognized by such a respected group of biometric solution providers targeting the HSPD-12 market,” said Mike Chaudoin, Director of Standards and Security at UPEK.  “UPEK’s TouchChip TCS1 sensors are the only silicon fingerprint sensors certified to meet the demanding GSA and FBI standards for Single Finger Capture Devices, and this further validates UPEK’s world-class technology deployed in millions of notebook computers, cell phones, USB flash drives, PC peripherals, door locks, handheld terminals and other government and commercial devices.”

About UPEK, Inc.

UPEK, Inc., a global leader in biometric fingerprint security solutions, offers integrated end-to-end solutions including comprehensive design & integration services to the world’s leading consumer and industrial products companies. UPEK solutions enable the strongest fingerprint authentication security available, packaged for high user convenience and rapid integration into existing products and network architectures.  The company has been pioneering biometric fingerprint technology since 1996 and shipping product in volume since 1999.  UPEK is headquartered in Emeryville, California, with offices in Prague, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.upek.com .

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