Talk of the tech town is that the newest Apple iPhone will include a fingerprint reader, and the buzz that has generated has already doubled the price of shares at some biometrics companies.
Apple Inc. is due to unveil its latest iPhone in September. And industry insiders insist: The latest version will include a fingerprint reader, Bloomberg reported. Fueling that speculation is the fact that Apple just spent $350 million to buy the fingerprint-sensor making company, AuthenTec Inc., just a few months ago.
“Apple is giving a strong indication that market leaders see biometrics as part of their roadmap,” said Thomas Marschall, chief executive officer of Precise Biometrics AB, in the Bloomberg report. “All competitors are looking for alternatives to match Apple. It’s the kickoff of a rally in the industry.”
And that means good news for makers of biometrics technology.
Precise Biometrics AB has seen its share price double in the past few months. And Fingerprint Cards AB, a Swedish biometric security company, has grown in revenues tenfold in recent months, while share prices have seen dramatic rises, too.
The fingerprint sensor on Apple’s new iPhone would allow users a quick and easy way of accessing Internet files and buying items on their phone.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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