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BUSINESS WATCH acquisition
C O M PA N Y N E W S • Biometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies, a provider of iris biometric identification technologies for law enforcement, has filed a patent application for a mobile, wireless and hand-held iris biometric identification device with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The device, called MORIS (Mobile Offender Recognition and Information System), positively identifies previously enrolled individuals by operating as a peripheral device connected to a commercially available wireless mobile computing device. The device will be used by law enforcement, public safety and other organizations that need the capability to quickly and positively identify an individual in their custody or presence. • Speech technology company Agnitio has appointment Niko Brümmer as its chief scientist. He will be spearheading Agnitio’s R&D efforts in order to further advance, improve and consolidate Agnitio’s voice biometrics technology and its applications in live scenarios. Brümmer comes with a strong background in speaker recognition. He was research engineer with Spescom DataVoice in Stellenbosch, South Africa from 1990 to May 2008. In this position he participated in six US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Speaker Recognition Evaluations between 2000 and 2008, and two NIST Language Recognition Evaluations in 2005 and 2007. His contributions on application-independent evaluation of systems have been adopted by NIST in Speaker and Language recognition evaluations since 2006. • Datastrip, a provider of biometric mobile identification and verification solutions, has announced the opening of a new regional sales office in Dubai. The new office joins Datastrip Limited’s UK headquarters. The opening of the Dubai office coincided with the appointment of Ramji Krishnan as vice president − Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Datastrip, Ramji was the regional manager of Bosch Security Systems-Middle East, based in Dubai. Datastrip’s new regional office will operate under the name Datastrip Limited (Dubai) Branch.
6
Biometric Technology Today
Safran acquires Sdu-Identification
S
afran, and its subsidiary Sagem Sécurité, are on the hunt for acquisitions in the secure ID document market. But, as with most things in life, you win some and you lose some. In this instance, it lost out in its bidding war for Digimarc in the USA (see page 2), but has successfully announced the acquisition of Netherlands-based passport and secure ID document maker Sdu-Identification. Sdu-I had revenues of more than 90 million euros in 2007, and is regarded as a leading European supplier of secure ID documents, including ePassports, ID cards and driver licenses. Safran says it will use the acquisition to strengthen its position in the international market for ID solutions. According to Safran: “With this acquisition, Sagem Sécurité offers proven expertise in the three key technologies needed for secure ID documents: biometric technologies, through its own systems and equipment; secure electronic transactions based on smart card technologies; and physical security through e-documents and secure printing technologies. This unrivaled combination of technologies and expertise will enable Sagem Sécurité to offer real complete, world-class ID solutions to governments anywhere in the world.” The ID document market is expected to log annual growth exceeding 15% over the next five years, driven not only by international regulatory measures such as the US Visa Waiver Program and related European Union directives for biometric passports, but also growing demand from countries worldwide for high-security ID documents.
acquisition
Logica Holdings to acquire Dolphin
L
ogica Holdings, a company that develops social networking websites using fingerprint technology, has said it is to acquire Dolphin Digital Media. The proposed acquisition will enable Logica to create and manage social networking websites around Dolphin’s core brands of popular television programmes for children, including Nickelodeon’s top-rated series Zoey 101, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and the mystery movie franchise Roxy Hunter, among many others. The acquisition, if completed, will allow the launch of a series of new secured social networking
communities for children worldwide. It is anticipated that the combination of Logica’s technology and Dolphin’s brand awareness and content will create the world’s safest and potentially largest children and tween communities – helping to solve identified problems associated with online social networking, which have been front page news over the last few years. Under the proposed terms of the contemplated acquisition, Logica will purchase the entire issued share capital of Dolphin, and it is anticipated that the deal will be valued in excess of US$15 million. According to Pino Baldassarre, CEO of Logica Holdings: “Dolphin’s increasingly popular library of children’s and young adult programming will help us introduce more young people to the safe usage of the Internet utilizing our state-of the-art biometric technology platform. Given the lack of viable alternatives for online safety, we are proud to be the solution and a resource to parents, lawmakers, and most importantly, children, by setting this new standard.’’ At the heart of Logica’s security platform are the solutions of its technology partners: Novell Corporation, Rackspace, Fujitsu and 123ID, all integrated through an exclusive worldwide license with Weblock International.
agreement
Iris agreement between BI2 and Retica
B
iometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies (BI2 Technologies), a provider of iris biometric identification technologies for law enforcement, has entered into an agreement to offer and use iris biometric technologies developed by Retica Systems. BI2 Technologies’ iris biometric solutions and systems are currently installed and used by law enforcement agencies in 30 US states. BI2’s technologies include its Sex Offender Registry and Identification System (SORIS), Inmate Recognition and Identification System (IRIS), The Child Project and Senior Safety Net. Retica Systems is a provider of iris biometric technology algorithms, software and cameras including Mobile Eyes and Eagle Eyes. Sean Mullin, president and CEO of BI2 Technologies, said that his company has implemented a large number of iris-based systems and had worked with every major algorithm and camera provider. Mullin said: “In our opinion, Retica has the most accurate and fastest iris biometric algorithm.” Contact: Sean G. Mullin at BI2 Technologies, Tel: +1 508 224 1600 Barry Morse at Retica Systems, Tel: +1 781 547 0439
July/August 2008
C O M PA N Y N E W S • Biometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies, a provider of iris biometric identification technologies for law enforcement, has filed a patent application for a mobile, wireless and hand-held iris biometric identification device with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The device, called MORIS (Mobile Offender Recognition and Information System), positively identifies previously enrolled individuals by operating as a peripheral device connected to a commercially available wireless mobile computing device. The device will be used by law enforcement, public safety and other organizations that need the capability to quickly and positively identify an individual in their custody or presence. • Speech technology company Agnitio has appointment Niko Brümmer as its chief scientist. He will be spearheading Agnitio’s R&D efforts in order to further advance, improve and consolidate Agnitio’s voice biometrics technology and its applications in live scenarios. Brümmer comes with a strong background in speaker recognition. He was research engineer with Spescom DataVoice in Stellenbosch, South Africa from 1990 to May 2008. In this position he participated in six US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Speaker Recognition Evaluations between 2000 and 2008, and two NIST Language Recognition Evaluations in 2005 and 2007. His contributions on application-independent evaluation of systems have been adopted by NIST in Speaker and Language recognition evaluations since 2006. • Datastrip, a provider of biometric mobile identification and verification solutions, has announced the opening of a new regional sales office in Dubai. The new office joins Datastrip Limited’s UK headquarters. The opening of the Dubai office coincided with the appointment of Ramji Krishnan as vice president − Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Datastrip, Ramji was the regional manager of Bosch Security Systems-Middle East, based in Dubai. Datastrip’s new regional office will operate under the name Datastrip Limited (Dubai) Branch.
6
Biometric Technology Today
Safran acquires Sdu-Identification
S
afran, and its subsidiary Sagem Sécurité, are on the hunt for acquisitions in the secure ID document market. But, as with most things in life, you win some and you lose some. In this instance, it lost out in its bidding war for Digimarc in the USA (see page 2), but has successfully announced the acquisition of Netherlands-based passport and secure ID document maker Sdu-Identification. Sdu-I had revenues of more than 90 million euros in 2007, and is regarded as a leading European supplier of secure ID documents, including ePassports, ID cards and driver licenses. Safran says it will use the acquisition to strengthen its position in the international market for ID solutions. According to Safran: “With this acquisition, Sagem Sécurité offers proven expertise in the three key technologies needed for secure ID documents: biometric technologies, through its own systems and equipment; secure electronic transactions based on smart card technologies; and physical security through e-documents and secure printing technologies. This unrivaled combination of technologies and expertise will enable Sagem Sécurité to offer real complete, world-class ID solutions to governments anywhere in the world.” The ID document market is expected to log annual growth exceeding 15% over the next five years, driven not only by international regulatory measures such as the US Visa Waiver Program and related European Union directives for biometric passports, but also growing demand from countries worldwide for high-security ID documents.
acquisition
Logica Holdings to acquire Dolphin
L
ogica Holdings, a company that develops social networking websites using fingerprint technology, has said it is to acquire Dolphin Digital Media. The proposed acquisition will enable Logica to create and manage social networking websites around Dolphin’s core brands of popular television programmes for children, including Nickelodeon’s top-rated series Zoey 101, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and the mystery movie franchise Roxy Hunter, among many others. The acquisition, if completed, will allow the launch of a series of new secured social networking
communities for children worldwide. It is anticipated that the combination of Logica’s technology and Dolphin’s brand awareness and content will create the world’s safest and potentially largest children and tween communities – helping to solve identified problems associated with online social networking, which have been front page news over the last few years. Under the proposed terms of the contemplated acquisition, Logica will purchase the entire issued share capital of Dolphin, and it is anticipated that the deal will be valued in excess of US$15 million. According to Pino Baldassarre, CEO of Logica Holdings: “Dolphin’s increasingly popular library of children’s and young adult programming will help us introduce more young people to the safe usage of the Internet utilizing our state-of the-art biometric technology platform. Given the lack of viable alternatives for online safety, we are proud to be the solution and a resource to parents, lawmakers, and most importantly, children, by setting this new standard.’’ At the heart of Logica’s security platform are the solutions of its technology partners: Novell Corporation, Rackspace, Fujitsu and 123ID, all integrated through an exclusive worldwide license with Weblock International.
agreement
Iris agreement between BI2 and Retica
B
iometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies (BI2 Technologies), a provider of iris biometric identification technologies for law enforcement, has entered into an agreement to offer and use iris biometric technologies developed by Retica Systems. BI2 Technologies’ iris biometric solutions and systems are currently installed and used by law enforcement agencies in 30 US states. BI2’s technologies include its Sex Offender Registry and Identification System (SORIS), Inmate Recognition and Identification System (IRIS), The Child Project and Senior Safety Net. Retica Systems is a provider of iris biometric technology algorithms, software and cameras including Mobile Eyes and Eagle Eyes. Sean Mullin, president and CEO of BI2 Technologies, said that his company has implemented a large number of iris-based systems and had worked with every major algorithm and camera provider. Mullin said: “In our opinion, Retica has the most accurate and fastest iris biometric algorithm.” Contact: Sean G. Mullin at BI2 Technologies, Tel: +1 508 224 1600 Barry Morse at Retica Systems, Tel: +1 781 547 0439
July/August 2008