Touchless Biometric Systems recognized by Frost & Sullivan

Dec. 23, 2008
Company receives 'Product Innovation of the Year' award

LONDON, December 19/PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the biometric access control markets, Frost & Sullivan recognizes TBS - Touchless Biometric Systems with the 2008 European Frost & Sullivan Product Innovation of the Year Award. This award acknowledges TBS' development of the world's first and only touchless and 3D fingerprint sensor. The company's technological innovations set a new level of security, usability and convenience in fingerprinting identification.

The company has gained a distinct competitive edge in the market in overcoming the inherent limitations of legacy technology. TBS enables users for the first time to choose between a standard touch and a high-end touchless sensor.

TBS provides sensors, terminals and complete system solutions for access control as well as time and attendance applications. Its new series of fingerprint products include the BioGuard-Touch Terminal, BioGuard-Surround Terminal and BioGuard-10.

"TBS has introduced a range of security products that enable highly scalable, flexible, and secure solutions for commercial access control, border management environments, civil identity programmes, traveller ID applications and employee credentialing applications," says Frost & Sullivan's Matia Grossi. "TBS's products are flexible and enable organisations to dynamically choose the levels of identity assurance necessary for their business operations."

Companies that deploy TBS's products can seamlessly integrate biometric processes into their business operations in a way that best suits their security, privacy and identity assurance needs. Considering the existing technologies, TBS' touchless technology gets full marks for its image quality and captured finger area, as it shows third-level details at 500 respectively 1,000 dpi, including a 3D view of the finger and its texture, without failing to enrol even with the most difficult fingerprints.

TBS' BioGuard-Surround Terminal allows capturing only when the finger is correctly positioned, giving the images excellent stability (similarity). Touchless imaging not only enhances security but is also more appealing to users for its convenience and hygiene. The BioGuard-Surround Terminal is available only for access control applications; however, from the middle of 2009, it will be offered for civil and criminal enrollment and identification as well.

Users have also shown great interest in the BioGuard-Touch Terminal because of its modest price and enhanced level of security when compared to any card or personal identification number (PIN). It has a modular design that enables users to combine touchless and touch-based terminals in the same network as well as merge fingerprints with a card or a PIN solution. Users can also choose from various options including server software packages (such as time & attendance) and wireless local area network (LAN).

Meanwhile, TBS' newest product, BioGuard-10 captures rolled equivalents (nail-to-nail images) of all ten fingers touchlessly within less than 30 seconds. Being still in the pre-production stage, this product is designed mainly for civil and criminal identification purposes.

"An experienced operator may take several minutes to roll the fingers of an individual, one by one on a platen, even if a person does not have so called 'difficult fingerprints'," observes Matia Grossi. "TBS touchless technology does it within 30 seconds for all ten fingers, with much more detailed information of the fingerprints."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new products and technologies within its industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by launching a broad line of emerging products and technologies.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.