Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

AuthenTec, EDOM announce distributorship agreement for biometric fingerprint sensors in China and Taiwan

Wednesday, May 4, 2005

AuthenTec, a Melbourne, Florida-based producer of fingerprint sensors, has authorized Taiwan-based semiconductor distributor EDOM to sell its line of 15 touch and slide biometric sensors in Taiwan and China.


MELBOURNE, Fla. & TAIPEI, Taiwan – AuthenTec, the world leader in fingerprint sensor innovation and sales, and EDOM Technology, a professional semiconductor distributor, have entered into an agreement for EDOM to market and sell AuthenTec’s full line of biometric fingerprint sensors in Taiwan and China. The tiny sensors are used to provide the most convenient form of security against theft or fraud, as well as to enable other functions in PCs, cell phones and access control devices.

Under the agreement, EDOM will market and sell AuthenTec’s complete line of 15 touch and slide sensors included in its EntrePad and FingerLoc sensor families. These sensors are designed to meet the specific needs within the PC, wireless and access control markets. The product families include;

– EntrePad – The AES4000, AES3400, AES2500, and AES1500 families of touch and swipe sensors are optimized for integration into desktop, portable laptop, and mobile PCs, cell phones, PDAs and other wireless products.

– FingerLoc – The AFS2 and AFS8600 series of sensors are optimized for integration into time and attendance devices, door locks, automotive and other access control products.

The sensors are built on AuthenTec’s best-in-class TruePrint® technology, which provides the most accurate and reliable security solution. Unlike competitive “surface based” solutions that read the top layer of a fingerprint, AuthenTec’s TruePrint technology reads below the surface - enabling it to read virtually anyone’s fingerprint.

The product line includes the very popular EntrePad 2500 series of slide sensors and the just-launched EntrePad 1510 – the world’s smallest, most powerful and versatile biometric fingerprint sensor, which combines high-level security with a host of touch-powered features and functions for cell phones. These low-cost sensors feature AuthenTec’s “The Power of Touch”(TM) approach, which enhances the overall consumer electronics experience by extending biometric technology beyond secure user authentication to take full advantage of the power of touch.

“The demand for the security and convenience that biometrics provides for electronic devices is growing rapidly throughout this region,” said Wayne Tseng, chairman and CEO of EDOM. “We are excited to partner with AuthenTec, which offers the broadest and most advanced family of fingerprint sensors for the wireless, PC, and access control markets.”

“Asia represents one of the fastest growing and most dynamic markets for biometric fingerprint sensors,” said Chris Lister, vice president of worldwide sales for AuthenTec. “EDOM is a premier distributor and will enable us to offer companies throughout Taiwan and China an extremely high level of technical, marketing and sales support. EDOM’s extensive experience, reach, technical support and distribution services complement our capabilities, and will help us meet the increasing demand for AuthenTec sensors throughout the region.”

AuthenTec has been providing sensors in Asia since 2000, and has grown to become the leading provider of biometric fingerprint sensors throughout the region, with more than 4 million sensors already in use in cell phones, PCs,, and access control devices. The company announced last month that it is significantly expanding its presence throughout Asia - including establishing one of the first biometric research and development centers – to help meet the region’s growing demand for consumer and enterprise biometric products. The company said that it will open the AuthenTec-Shanghai Development Center in the Songjiang district in Shanghai, as well as multiple marketing and customer technical support offices in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

About EDOM Technology Founded in 1996, EDOM Technology is a professional IC agent and distributor based in Taiwan, with subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Singapore. EDOM is a distributor for more than 30 fabless IC design companies and software companies who specialize in IC designs and software with advanced technologies. Applications of distributed products include multimedia, portable, wire and wireless communications, opto-electronics and consumer electronics, involving both digital and analog fields. For more information, email marcom@edom.com.tw, call 886-2-2657-8811, or visit www.edom.com.

About AuthenTec With more than four million sensors in use worldwide, AuthenTec is the world leader in fingerprint sensor innovation and sales to the PC, wireless, and access control markets. AuthenTec’s award-winning FingerLoc(R) and EntrePad(R) sensors take full advantage of The Power of Touch(TM) by utilizing the company’s patented TruePrint(R) technology to deliver the most convenient, reliable and cost-effective means available for enabling touch-powered features that extend beyond user authentication. The company’s network of partners, solution providers and customers include: Analog Devices, APC, Compal, Cherry, Fujitsu Computer, Computer Associates, Fellowes, IBM, LGE, Microsoft, Motion Computing, Samsung, Tatung, Texas Instruments, Quanta, among others. Visit www.authentec.com[end] 

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