Farpointe providing Zwipe biometric card to its OEMs

Feb. 13, 2014
Users can provide the benefits of biometric authorization by simply incorporating the card into their systems

OSLO, NORWAY – February 12, 2014 – Zwipe today announced that Farpointe Data will soon provide its access control system manufacturer partners with ready-to-use Zwipe next-generation biometric cards, contactless smart card credentials with on-card fingerprint reading. In turn, these access control OEMs will be able to furnish their integrator and distribution customers with a product that lets users authenticate themselves directly on the biometric card through something they are, a fingerprint, without having to add a biometric reader to existing smart card readers. Orders for the cards, optionally already programmed by Farpointe with access control data, including facility codes and ID numbers, will commence April 2, the first day of the ISC West Exposition in Las Vegas.

“It’s not often that the security industry is introduced to an additive product such as the Zwipe biometric card,” emphasizes Scott Lindley, CEO of Farpointe. “This new product doesn’t take the place of other existing products. To use it, ISO 14443-compliant smart card reader users do not need to pull out present equipment and replace it with new products. The readers they now use will be able to provide the benefits of biometric authorization by simply incorporating the card into their systems in the same way they incorporate smart cards through current offerings.”

“Farpointe is well-known for producing innovative and high quality access control products,” adds Kim Humborstad, CEO of Zwipe. “They wanted to provide their customers with biometric authorization but not if it meant integrating biometric devices that will not hold up to Farpointe value standards. Not needing any additional equipment, the Zwipe biometric card lets them meet this goal.”

Eliminating the problems of solely deploying PINs and standard cards, the contactless Zwipe biometric card quickly reads the user’s fingerprint in less than a second. Only then will the card system activate the lock. This is much more secure than simply using a standard smartcard, which verifies only something users carry, the smartcard itself.

The on-card fingerprint scanner with 3D capacitive technology resides on the contactless smart card which has universal compatibility with all ISO 14443 readers. The Zwipe biometric card is DESFIRE EV1 and MIFARE Classic compatible. Without having to change out the existing readers, the biometric card provides an easy, low cost way for organizations to provide a biometric upgrade to access control systems using smart card readers or multi-technology readers that also read smart cards.

“This means our existing channels will have a product they can now offer their customers to immediately provide biometric authorization, a feature many have requested,” adds Lindley. “This fills a void that our OEM partners have wanted us to fill. The Zwipe biometric card provides a very easy solution to that need.”

The biometric card is more secure to use than many other available ID and authentication solutions on the market today. The fingerprint data is captured by the on-card fingerprint scanner and is thereafter encrypted and stored only inside the card. No exchange of data is conducted with external systems. This provides secure template management since the fingerprint never leaves the card. It also eliminates user concerns with privacy issues. The card is unique to the user and only the authorized card holder can activate card communication with the reader. When a positive match occurs, the Zwipe biometric card will activate encrypted communication with the lock or reader in the same way as other ISO 14443 contactless smart cards.

At the ISC West Exposition, Zwipe will be in Booth # 5055 and Farpointe will be in Booth # 8056. More information is available at www.zwipe.com.