AuthenTec Said to Cut Off Non-Apple Fingerprint Sensor Customers in 2013

According to Korea's etnews.com [Google translation], fingerprint sensor firm AuthenTec has notified a number of its customers, including Samsung, HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Fujitsu, that it will cease offering its technology to those companies as of next year. Apple agreed to acquire AuthenTec in July, and AuthenTec's board is expected to approve the acquisition next month.

AuthenTec's current customers are said to be "in a state of panic" as they seek to secure alternative suppliers for the fingerprint recognition technology that has been seeing increasing adoption. But with AuthenTec holding a significant amount of intellectual property rights in the field, those companies may have difficulty finding adequate alternatives.

authentec logo
Apple has not signaled its exact area of interest for AuthenTec's technology, but many observers have speculated that Apple is interested in incorporating it into its mobile devices for user recognition and other purposes.

The security of fingerprint scanning may also play into longer-term efforts at Apple for developing mobile payment solutions, although the company is said to be deliberately holding back on a public implementation as it explores the competitive landscape and potential. Rumors had suggested that Apple was looking at including near field communications (NFC) in the iPhone 5 in order to facilitate mobile payments integrated with the new Passbook app in iOS 6, but Apple elected not to pursue that technology with this round of iPhone hardware revisions.

Tag: ETNews

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Top Rated Comments

alexlovesmacs Avatar
164 months ago
iPhone 5S. S= security.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tiger8 Avatar
164 months ago
Seems gimmicky. Just my personal opinion. Especially with apps like "Find My iPhone" that can shut off your device.

Find my iPhone is so 2011... 2013 is all about Finger my iPhone :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacNut Avatar
164 months ago
Annnnnd the Goliath that is Apple gobbles up another company again to "incorporate" their innovation with total disregard of the consequences of what it will do to the world.

They are winning again but Monopoly isn't just a game :apple:
If this company holds most of the technology I have to wonder how long before an anti trust suit is filed.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nathan20 Avatar
164 months ago
A finger print scanner on the iPad to switch user would be an awesome feature.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adildacoolset Avatar
164 months ago
In 2013: iPhone 5S with fingerprint scanner
In 2014: samsung galaxy S5 with S-scanner
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Diode Avatar
164 months ago
Swipe to unlock could have a whole new meaning :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)