FREMONT, Calif. and LUND, Sweden, April 23, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq:SCMM) (Neuer Markt:SMY) and Precise Biometrics AB (Stockholm:PREC A), today announced a joint agreement to develop and market a biometric smart card reader. Designed to offer customers improved secure authentication based on two factor authentication, the partnership will strengthen each company's position within the biometrics industry which is predicted to reach $1.9 billion by 2005 .
The new device will be based on SCM's smart card interface technology and Precise Biometrics biometric technology, employing fingerprint identification for secure authentication. The biometric smart card reader will offer corporations, government authorities, System Integrators and PC OEMs a single product to perform security sensitive applications such as online transactions and network or physical access.
"Biometrics is forecasted to reach several billion dollars and we have already seen organizations include this technology as a key element of future security implementations," said Jason Schouw, Vice President, Americas for SCM Microsystems. "The addition of biometrics to the smart card reader is the natural step to improving security measures. This partnership with Precise Biometrics delivers years of biometric knowledge to our customers, as well as expands both companies' worldwide presence."
"Marrying the highly accurate identification capabilities of biometrics with the remote authentication abilities of smart cards delivers the most secure access solution available," said Marten Oebrink, Co-founder and VP Corporate Development of Precise Biometrics. "SCM is one of the world's leading providers of smart card reader technology with the ability to market and supply volumes worldwide. This is an important step for us in deploying Precise Match-on-Card' technology as an industry standard."
The co-branded biometric smart card reader will be available in Q3 of 2002. For further information on the new development, please visit SCM and Precise Biometrics at CardTech / SecurTech, New Orleans, LA, April 22-25, 2002, Booth #839 and #813.
International Biometric Group, Biometric Market Report 2000-2005
About Precise Biometrics
Precise Biometrics is an innovative security company that supplies world-leading systems for authentication using fingerprints. The solutions supplied by the company replace keys, PIN codes and passwords. The company's products are cost effective and provide security and comfort combined with top-class protection of personal integrity. The range of products includes systems for access control to computers and networks and for building into mobile and terminals, such as mobile phones and portable computers. The company headquarters are in Lund, Sweden. The company also has offices in Stockholm and a U.S. subsidiary in Washington, D.C. Precise Biometrics is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange (symbol: PREC A). For additional information, visit www.precisebiometrics.com
About SCM Microsystems
SCM Microsystems is a leading supplier of solutions that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital content and services. SCM's Security business provides smart card reader technology for the PC platform and conditional access modules for the digital TV platform to OEM customers in the government, financial, enterprise and broadcasting markets worldwide. The Company's Digital Media and Video business provides hardware, software and silicon solutions for creating and sharing digital media content to the worldwide retail market under the Dazzle(TM) brand. Global headquarters are in Fremont, California, with European headquarters in Ismaning, Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems website at www.scmmicro.com.
Notes to Editors: All trade names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.