Veridicom Unveils Thinner, More Rugged Fingerprint Sensor Chip for Stronger Authentication On Portable Devices; FPS110BT Offers Design Space Savings of 46 Percent

Business Wire, July 24, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000

Veridicom, Inc., the leader in fingerprint-based e-business authentication devices and services, today announced a new solid-state fingerprint sensor chip that features a new thinner package and provides higher sensor efficiency. Engineered for designers of portable computer and communications devices, the FPS110BT fingerprint sensor chip meets crucial industry needs for rugged fingerprint sensor technology that can be easily integrated into space-constrained and battery-operated platforms.

Veridicom's FPS110BT chip offers an ultra-thin 1.4 mm package - at least 46 percent thinner than previous fingerprint sensor chips - for easy integration into the latest generation of ultra-thin portable devices. The thinner package also allows for the finger to be in contact with a larger portion of the sensor resulting in more efficient authentication. The new FPS110BT features a low-power stand-by mode of less than 50 microAmps for saving battery life and reducing microprocessor overhead. To complement the FPS110BT, Veridicom is also releasing VBX algorithms featuring full-strength fingerprint capture and matching with lightweight memory and processor requirements.

"Veridicom's FPS110BT chip makes it easy for designers to elegantly integrate fingerprint authentication into cellular phones, laptop computers, PDAs and Internet appliances," said Mike D'Amour, Veridicom president and CEO. "This device addresses the crucial challenges of thin design and durability to answer the currently storming opportunities for wireless trusted e-business applications."

Building on the success of its predecessor, the FPS110BT offers even higher ruggedness. It is manufactured with Veridicom's patent-pending abrasion and contamination-resistant surface which resists scratches, chemical spills and tapping typical in a harsh portable device environment.

"We've been making embedded systems with Veridicom's FPS110 device for more than 15 months," said Marty Kreb, vice president of manufacturing at Biometric Identification, Inc. of Sherman Oaks, Calif. "We have tested the new sensor chip and are very pleased with its improved ruggedness to address our continuing customer requests for high durability and scalability."

Key Features of the FPS110BT

-- Power consumption of less than 50 (mu)A during stand-by

-- Operates at 200 milliwatts during authentication

-- Durable sensor surface for portable environments

-- Thinner by 46 percent compared to previous sensor chips

-- Improved efficiency of sensor array area

Pricing and Availability

The FPS110BT sensor chip, available in September, will be priced at $42 in 1,000-unit quantities with discounts for higher volume quantities.

About Veridicom

Veridicom, Inc. is the leader in fingerprint-based technologies and services that enable trusted e-business transactions across networks, intranets and the Internet. The company's extremely accurate fingerprint sensors, advanced recognition algorithms and authentication systems and services allow users to conduct business on-line without fear or fraud. Veridicom is also pioneering the adoption of iWitness based authentication technology that will make Internet transactions legally binding. Veridicom, the first technology spin-off from Lucent/Bell Labs, is delivering solutions with a distinct advantage over other authorization technologies that rely on passwords and personal information numbers (PINs) which can be lost, forgotten or stolen. Veridicom works closely with a growing list of vendors and systems integrators to provide network security solutions for Fortune 1000 companies around the world

Note to Editors: Veridicom and the Veridicom logo are trademarks of Veridicom, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.