UK research firm Goode Intelligence claims that thanks to the initial push by Apple and its decision to include a fingerprint sensor 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.
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 consumerisation 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.
— ©AFP/Relaxnews 2013
