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Fingerprint Cards AB early Wednesday said it has agreed to provide iris-recognition technology to Mantra Softech India Pvt Ltd., said to be the largest provider in India of biometric devices and sensors. Terms of the multi-year contract were not disclosed. Under the terms of the deal, Mantra will deploy the sensors in “multiple devices…in the coming years,” according to a news release from Sweden-based Fingerprint.
The deal follows Fingerprint’s announcement in March that its fingerprint-authentication technology had complied with reference specifications from Mastercard Inc., setting the stage for that technology to help authenticate users of payment cards.
The iris is the colored part of the eye that contains the pupil. As is the case with fingerprints, each iris is unique, even with identical twins.
Wednesday’s announcement did not specify types of devices or the range of applications the iris-recognition technology could ultimately work with. But both companies clearly see it fulfilling a need to provide authentication technology that does not require users to touch cards or devices in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among Mantra’s products is a portable tablet, called the MISTAB 74G, that incorporates an iris scanner. Beside its home market, the company exports to more than 60 countries.
“We are very pleased with this contract, which confirms the positive trend in demand for touchless solutions. It demonstrates the strength of our solution, and the tight collaboration with Mantra Softech India Pvt Ltd,” said Michel Roig, senior vice president for business line, payment and access, at Fingerprint, in a statement. The company did not timely respond to queries from Digital Transactions News about its announcement.
