Kwick High Tech News Blog

Suprema, Inc., a leading global supplier of fingerprint recognition technology and systems, launched Korea’s first IPO in the biometric sector on July 11.Suprema enjoys a majority of the Korean biometrics market, while the company’s globally certified technology is installed with more than 500 clients in 100 countries worldwide. 600,000 new shares were offered to the public with a public offering price of KRW 27,100 (US$26.85). After IPO, the total number of the company’s share is about 3 million.

Founded in 2000 by current CEO James Lee, Ph.D, Suprema’s leading biometric core fingerprint technologies for PC and embedded applications feature the integration of the company’s embedded system design capability with pre-eminent algorithm theory, backed by a team of experts with rich experience and extensive knowledge in the fields of biometric solutions, embedded system design and signal processing.

Suprima offers a wide range of fingerprint authentication products including fingerprint OEM modules, fingerprint access control systems and software. The company’s lineup is now expanding to a range of ePassport readers and live-scanners for the ePassport & Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) markets, with initial deliveries of passport readers to airline ticket counters in Incheon International Airport and AFIS systems to the Korean National Police Agency.

Suprema’s core fingerprint recognition technology has also received international acclaim, earning top rank at the last two Fingerprint Verification Competitions (FVCs), the world’s largest, bi-annual evaluations of fingerprint matching technologies. In FVC2004 and FVC2006, Suprema’s fingerprint recognition algorithm ranked first among all participants in the light and open categories respectively.

The company’s revenue has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 96.3% since 2004, with this year’s expected turnover doubling to KRW25 billion (US$25 million). Exports account for more than 60% of sales, distributed worldwide across Europe (30%), Asia (27%), the Americas (25%) and Africa/Middle East (18%).

Suprema’s fingerprint systems include fingerprint terminals under the brand name BioStation, Internet protocol (IP)-based distributed access control systems under the brand name BioStar, simple fingerprint access control products under the brand name BioEntry and standalone outdoor fingerprint locks under the brand name BioLite Solo.

Fingerprint solutions include the SFM embedded module series, the SFR personal computers (PC) series, and fingerprint engine software development kits (SDKs) for PC-based fingerprint application development.

In all, the company has supplied more than 200,000 embedded fingerprint recognition devices to over 2,500 sites worldwide.

HID Global introduced new Fargo DTC series ID Card printers called  DTC 1000 / DTC 2000 / DTC 4500

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Acculynk first introduced PaySecure for PIN debit payments on the Internet in 2009, but the growing prevalence of mobile transactions coupled with merchant demand prompted Acculynk to extend the program to smart phones, says the company.

“We were approached by major merchants last year wanting to know how PaySecure would fit with their developing mobile channels, so we started work on a mobile application,” said Ashish Bahl, CEO of Acculynk. “After several months of development, we’ll be ready to launch PaySecure mobile in Q1 2011, allowing our merchants and partners to benefit from higher security in not just one but two major purchasing channels.”

PaySecure Mobile is built on the same encryption and authentication platform Acculynk uses for its Internet PIN debit product, which today is supported by 9 U.S. EFT networks and implemented on over 1,000 U.S. merchant websites.

Acculynk says it is looking to develop new applications for PaySecure in the coming year, including money transfer, Peer to Peer (P2P) authentication, online banking authentication, and PIN debit entry on a kiosk.

PaySecure Mobile will be available on the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows-7 platforms.

GEO Business

Nadra to issue smart cards usable as cash cards

Updated at: 1301 PST,  Saturday, April 17, 2010

KARACHI: Chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Ali Arshad Hakeem said the Authority would issue Smart Card, which would use the Computerized National Identity Card as ATM and Debit cards, Geo News reported Saturday.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Pakistan Branchless Banking Conference at SBP Learning Resource Centre, Hakeem said the Authority is working on using CNIC as ATM and debit card.

He said the idea of smart card has been derived from giving the financial assistance to terror-hit affectees of Malakand.

Ali Arshad Hakeem said a special chip would be added to the CNIC which would make it usable as cash card.

Deputy Chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Saturday said with registration of over 85 per-cent of the country’s adult population using both biometric and facial recognition systems Pakistan  was way a ahead of the USA and India who are in a very early stage of unique systems.
In his Keynote address at the 8th Annual Smart Cards Government Conference 2009,at Washington DC, USA, the deputy chairman Tariq Malik said the Pakistan had established  the world’s largest biometric citizen database, thus enabling the elected government to use identity infrastructure to roll out  financial support and other programmes for the benefit of citizens.
The Deputy Chairman said that the evolution of e-government, the outreach to poorest of poor, effective information and physical security, crises management and many facets of the lives of citizens of Pakistan depend on NADRA’s ability to assert Pakistani Identity in an efficient, safe and widely accepted manner,  he informed the Identity management experts.
Mr. Malik announced that NADRA was going to introduce smart card technology next year.The pilot project, targeting oversees Pakistanis, will use secure smart card in conjunction with biometrics.
The fingerprint template can be stored on the card, for quick authentication ensuring security and quick immigration at Pakistani airports.
Tariq Malik said that while Pakistan Army was fighting war on terror, Nadra had successfully implemented  the civilian government’s strategy to win the hearts and minds of internally displaced persons.
As a result, the government provided immediate relief; rehabilitation and reconstruction cost of approx. Rs 10 billion using smart cards in a very transparent way to more than 329,000 families, Mr Malik said.
He said that Nadra’s achievements had been recognized by international media also ‘’Perhaps this strategy has lesson for US crises managers also, who were struggling with the aftershocks of various crises like New Orleans and Katrina storm,” deputy Chairman Nadra said.