UK research firm Goode Intelligence claims that
thanks to the initial push by Apple and its decision to
include a fingerprint senor on its latest iPhone, all
other major manufacturers are about to follow suit.
The company expects a biometric scanner to be a
standard feature on all flagship devices within the
next two years and standard on all smartphones
before the end of the decade.
"Biometrics on mobile devices is not a new concept;
the first commercial device to embed a fingerprint
sensor was launched back in 1999. What we have
now, and what has changed in the last 18 months, is
a much more favourable environment in which
biometrics on mobile devices will flourish," said Alan
Goode, author of the report and founder of Goode
Intelligence.
"We believe that there will be a rush by consumer
smart mobile device (SMD) manufacturers to emulate
Apple by embedding and integrating biometrics
technology into their next generation devices -- not
just fingerprint sensors but other biometric
technology as well. This will become even more
important in the post-smartphone world when
wearable technology and smart cars/houses/cities
will offer us a much more personal computing
experience -- in this world biometrics may well hold
the key for identity and user interaction."
Michael Barret, president of the FIDO Alliance -- a
group of leading tech companies on a mission to
eradicate the password in favor of stronger
authentication methods -- claims that the first
Android smartphones with fingerprint sensors will be
arriving in 2014, and one or two companies, including
HTC, have already taken the plunge. The Taiwanese
manufacturer's latest phablet, the HTC One Max,
features a fingerprint scanner positioned under the
device's rear-facing camera.
The consumerization of biometric technology will not
only make life more difficult for cybercriminals, but
could open the doors for more smartphone and
connected device uses. Improved security will inspire
confidence in consumers to use their devices for
online shopping and even for making payments in
store and as such could be the key to making virtual
wallets popular.
news.yahoo.com/fingerprint-sensors-become-standard-smartphones-2018-161120806.html