BIO-key International and HID Corporation Announce Advancements In Biometric Finger Identification Security Solutions

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2002

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 20, 2002

BIO-key International, Inc. (OTCBB:BKYI); the leader in finger-based biometric identification, and HID Corporation, an ASSA ABLOY Group company, today announced advancements in biometric security with new solutions combining HID card and BIO-key biometric technologies.

BIO-key offers "True User Identification(TM)", a highly discriminating and scalable biometric solution. The primary architecture of the BIO-key HID solution is to store a unique identifier on the card, and use a backend server to perform the final, and secure, authentication. This enables the use of legacy cards and systems, such as the popular HID ProxCard II(R) (and all other HID proximity cards and tokens). It also allows for the power and performance of new technologies, such as iCLASS(TM), HID's 13.56 MHz contactless smart cards and readers, when onboard memory is required.

By placing the biometric templates on a centralized server, all authentications, permissions for authorization, and security logging and monitoring can be easily handled. If a card is lost or stolen, a new card can be generated quickly and easily without doing a new biometric enrollment. Additionally, the power of the BIO-key biometric can assure that the same user is not in the database more than one time. These features help to stop identity theft and fraud while providing for cost reductions and security improvements. When there is no access to a server, BIO-key can also support onboard card storage of biometric templates.

"These new architectures afford the highest level of security possible. By continuing to create a trusted interface between each aspect of the authentication system, BIO-key can truly assure the identity of the user authenticating... providing the solution to the last key hole in security... knowing WHO the user is," states Mira LaCous, BIO-key's VP of Technology and Development.

LaCous goes on to say, "HID's ability to offer both proximity and iCLASS technology is a perfect match for BIO-key, as we can take advantage of the full suite of products, maximizing the benefit to the customer. We can get them the most cost effective and secure solutions possible by using the most appropriate card technologies, and scaling the backend to the right level."

BIO-key's WEB-key solution has been strongly positioned to provide high security authentication, and the incorporation of HID's card technologies is no different. Interfaces for applications to WEB-key support full Microsoft based architectures as well as full Java based support.

Currently BIO-key is delivering solutions utilizing HID ISOProx(R) II cards, with computer based USB readers which are called pcProx(R) readers. These solutions incorporate a user ID on the card with the biometric match being authenticated on WEB-key's secure server. These solutions are part of BIO-key's co-marketing efforts with Intel, Oracle and others.

HID's iCLASS Technology

iCLASS is a new 13.56 MHz read/write contactless smart card technology from HID. The company now manufactures a range of cards, keys, tags and readers that target access control and other applications.

An important advantage of iCLASS technology compared to other contactless smart cards is a read range of approximately three inches. That performance is comparable to proximity cards for access control, an industry first for smart cards. A longer read range makes it more convenient for users and increases the throughput of the system, because the fingerprint template transfer begins as soon as the card enters the range.

The iCLASS technology brings the power and security of smart cards to access control and offers several unique features that enhance traditional radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. These capabilities work together to reduce the risk of compromised data or duplicated cards and make additional secure applications possible:

-- Secure reading and writing of data

-- Cryptographic data storage

-- Mutual authentication between cards and readers

-- Secure encryption of all radio frequency data transmission

-- User definable access keys and optional DES and triple DES encryption

The new technology, developed by the ASSA ABLOY Identification Technology Group (ITG), utilizes advanced semiconductor technology and is compliant with the ISO standards for contactless smart cards 15693 and 14443 Types A, B1 and B2. Compliance with ISO standards enables many equipment and application developers to work with this technology to create a broad range of uses for the cards.

All iCLASS credentials will be available in either a 2kbits (256Bytes) or 16kbits (2kBytes) configuration. The iCLASS Tag will affix to existing cards or devices such as a cellular telephone or PDA to allow users to seamlessly and cost-effectively add contactless smart card technology to existing cards or devices. HID also offers multi-technology credentials, such iCLASS(TM) Prox Card and iCLASS(TM) Wiegand Card, that allow users to carry one card with a photo ID that is compatible with multiple types of readers.