SAN DIEGO, June 18, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ImageWare Systems, Inc. (Pink Sheets:IWSY) was selected by an undisclosed government customer to deploy its Biometric Border Management software product suite at points of entry along the country's border. The project consists of four task orders and is expected to generate in excess of $12 million in revenue over the initial eighteen month completion period if all the task orders are issued. The company has received the first task order and has begun work on the project.
Jim Miller, ImageWare's chairman and CEO, said, "This government's major infrastructure project and our negotiations have been in the works for a very long time. We believe we were selected as a key contributor based on our extensive track record of providing biometric based identity management solutions for border applications and access control with Canadian Air Transportation Safety Administration (CATSA), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Florida Uniform Port Access Credential (FUPAC). The combination of our patented IWS Biometric Engine(r), IWS EPI Builder and related work flow process tools built specifically for border control will play a major role in this significant infrastructure project that will knit biometric identity into the fabric of our client's border control system. Based on discussions with the government customer, they plan to expand the project in a next phase to include seaports and airports throughout the country. The customer estimates this next phase will have a revenue value to ImageWare of another $12 million over an eighteen month implementation period."
ImageWare's border management software will enable its government customer to biometrically enroll applicants seeking permission to cross its border. Once an applicant's finger, face and iris are enrolled along with applicable text information, a smart card will be issued to the applicant, which will be used thereafter to verify the authenticity of the applicant's identity and privileges. The card will be compliant with the biometric standards set by ICAO, the international organization that sets the standards for passports and travel documents. The project will incorporate ImageWare's patented technology for biometric/identity enrollment, identity vetting, credential issuance, credential management and access control. The open architected platform enables users to create an application that is capable of utilizing virtually any biometric and a myriad of biometric capture devices. Both biometric algorithms and hardware devices can be interchanged at the customers' discretion.
A review of previous ImageWare border projects follows:
* Canadian Air Transportation Safety Administration (CATSA) For the Canadian Air Transportation Safety Administration (CATSA) ImageWare is currently under contract to supply a new Restricted Access Identity Card (RAIC) software application that enhances aviation security by ensuring that airport worker identities are verified via biometrics and security clearance status is validated before entry is permitted into restricted areas at twenty-nine major airports throughout Canada. The RAIC System will use smart cards containing fingerprint and iris biometrics for tracking secure access for all airport workers (approximately 125,000 individuals). The smart chip within the card also stores a unique identifier that is used to confirm user credentials and privileges. ImageWare is supplying the COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) middleware which allows CATSA to manage the complete identification card life-cycle: enrollment, issuance, verification, card production, auditing, and integration with access control devices. This includes the implementation of the following ImageWare Systems COTS products along with customizations specific to meet the particular needs of CATSA: IWS Biometric Engine(r), IWS EPI Builder, and IWS EPI CMS. * Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) For the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) ImageWare completed the Biometric Field Trial. This project required a multi-modal biometric enrollment, identification and verification application to test the implications of employing biometrics in the issuance of Work and Student Visas. The Field Trial was deployed at six sites including two foreign locations and ran for six months. After the six month trial the project successfully concluded with over 24,000 enrollments. The specific biometrics used in the CIC trial were ten-digit fingerprints and facial recognition. Of particular interest in this project was the fact that rather than scoring individual finger matches, CIC wanted a fused score across all ten digits, weighted to provide the most accuracy. This was achieved using the COTS capabilities of the IWS Biometric Engine with the requisite calls from the matching application. * Florida Uniform Port Access Credential (FUPAC) GE Security, Inc. contracted ImageWare to customize its COTS biometric, credentialing and card management software products to provide a Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) compliant solution for the Florida Uniform Port Access Credential (FUPAC). The FUPAC/TWIC implementation involved the issuance of 100,000 secure credentials at thirteen Florida port locations.
ImageWare also announced that it plans to take the necessary steps to bring itself back into compliance with SEC reporting requirements and has begun discussions with its independent auditor for an audit of its 2008 financial statements.
About ImageWare Systems, Inc.
ImageWare Systems, Inc. is a leading developer of identity management solutions, providing biometric, secure credential and law enforcement technologies. Scalable for worldwide deployment, the Company's biometric product line includes a multi-biometric engine that is hardware and algorithm independent, enabling the enrollment and management of unlimited population sizes. ImageWare's identification products are used to manage and issue secure credentials including national IDs, passports, driver licenses, smart cards and access control credentials. ImageWare's digital booking products provide law enforcement with integrated mug shot, fingerprint Livescan and investigative capabilities. ImageWare is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Portland, OR, Washington DC and Canada. For more information visit www.iwsinc.com.
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