Near Field Communications Handsets and Tags, NFC Pilots and Projects

NFC, biometrics on tap for future iPhones?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Macrumors.com has discovered new Apple patents that may show the future of the iPhone.

Potentially in store for the device are biometrics that would recognize a users different fingerprint patterns for security and to activate different applications. “So the index finger might mean email, while the middle finger music, etc, alternatively different fingers could mean different actions, so again index finger might play music while the middle finger might stop it,” the site states.


There was also mention of placing RFID technology, or NFC, into the phone for payments and other applications.

Apple also applied for a patent that would give the user physical feedback when hitting buttons on the screen.

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Oracle has released a new version of Oracle Retail Point-of-Service that aims to increase security, operational efficiency and functionality in part by integrating biometrics.

Oracle partnered with DigitalPersonal to add integrated biometrics to the POS package. Users of the software will login using their fingerprint, which will replace the need for PINs or passwords. This feature intends to reduce fraud by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized employees using a manager ID or swipe card to access the POS and approve overrides.

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The European Association for Biometrics (EAB) is focusing on a goal of driving the research and development of biometrics and building the future of the industry around a concern for end-user privacy protection.

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Although the push for NFC and mobile payments is on, Square is doing its part to make sure consumers still reach for their credit cards, reports Recombu.

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I Love Velvet has unveiled its new “Universal Holster” add-on device for accepting payments on Apple iPods, iPads and iPhones.

The Apple-certified U-Holster can accept payments from contactless devices such as payment cards and NFC-enabled phones, as well as scan bar codes on coupons, loyalty cards, U.S. driver’s licenses, ID cards and smart phones in less than a second.

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ValidSoft partnered with Opus Research and released a report titled “Voice Biometrics Authentication Best Practices: Overcoming Obstacles to Adoption” that predicts the technology will be deployed in payment authentication assuming the best practices it lays out are followed.

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Thanks to device add-ons from companies, such as Fulcrum Biometrics, the iPhone is seeing increase in demand as a tool for law enforcement, according to a Cult of Mac article.

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