Not happy with the accolade of being the first handset manufacturer to add a VGA screen to a mobile phone, Sharp intends to bring touchscreen VGA with built-in fingerprint recognition.

The new screen boasts 640×460 300ppi resolution at 30fps, and not only does it allow for complete control over your phone, but also the simultaneous scanning of your fingerprint. Concieved by Sharp Europe and recently presented in Japan and America, it is not yet clear how deeply this technology will penetrate Sharp’s mobile phone offerings.
We’re still unsure how necessary it is to bundle biometric scanning into mobile phones. For the most part, it’ll only act as a means of impressing friends and relatives. For the minority, it could save a whole lot of problems.

Privaris(R), a leading provider of wireless biometric security solutions, has selected slide fingerprint sensors from AuthenTec for its new mobile, handheld device that enhances security while eliminating the need for employees to use multiple access cards and passwords. The announcement was made as part of the 2006 Biometrics Technology Expo taking place in Baltimore this week.

Privaris selected the EntrePad 2510 fingerprint sensor from AuthenTec, the world leader in fingerprint sensor security, innovation and sales, for the plusID(TM) universal, personal biometric device. Users simply slide a finger across the fingerprint sensor on the key-fob-sized device to authenticate their identity and securely access buildings, vehicle gates, local and remote computers and networks, and online or onsite financial transactions.

Privaris has used AuthenTec touch sensors in previous biometric devices, but this marks the first implementation of a slide sensor by the company.

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IDS Worldwide, Inc. today reported that IDS has been informed by HLS Worldwide that it will begin accepting sealed bids beginning next week for the technology license rights to the HLS 9100 Biometric Encryption Cell Phone. HLS thru its investment bankers are shipping units for bid evaluation to the top cell phone industry leaders worldwide. The opening bid for the technology licensing rights has been set at $400 Million USD.The HLS 9100 represents a quantum leap in technology over any cell phone currently marketed in the United States. The HLS 9100 features include:

--  AuthenTec Biometric Sensor EntrePad 2510

--  HLS Proprietary 384 Bit Encryption Algorithm

--  Bluetooth and RFID Functionality

--  Color 2.0 Megapixel Camera with Flash (Camera Hot Key

and Self-Timer)

--  Voice Recognition

--  GPRS Enabled

--  GPS (Optional)

--  MP4 Player and Video Capabilities

--  Tri-Band (GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz)

--  Proprietary Biometric Encrypted Online Banking and

Brokerage Interface

HLS Worldwide plans to use the auction proceeds for current and future acquisitions of security and technology companies and the ongoing expansion of HLS Worldwide biometric product line. HLS 9100 functionality, security against cloning, data and identity theft and MP4 and video capabilities far exceed even the most popular cell phone currently sold in the United States, the Motorola Razor(TM). Earlier this month, Motorola credited the Razor(TM) with helping to boost its financial returns for the quarter. The company reported a profit of $1.75 billion on revenue of $9.42 billion for the July-September period.

HLS reported that international governments and their defense departments have ordered the HLS Bioflash to protect their countries’ government and military operations. HLS has also informed IDS that some of the largest defense contracting companies in the world have also purchased the HLS Bioflash to secure their data networks around the world. HLS is currently closing two unsolicited offers from the largest electronics distributors in Australia and the United Kingdom for exclusive rights for the distribution of HLS Biometric products in those territories. HLS expects both of the deals to close in the next 5 business days.

The finalization of these two exclusive distribution agreements will add to already projected revenues in the coming year of approximately $75 Million USD.

IDS reported that the merger talks for 995ad.com are continuing but have at a slower pace due to the availability of IDS CEO, Patrick Downs, for medical reasons. IDS CEO will meet again with his orthopedic surgeons again tomorrow for further treatment of a serious neck and back injury sustained in late August. Both parties still anticipate the closing of the merger prior to October 1, 2006.

Diamond I, Inc., a developer of wireless gaming products, including the GS2(TM) wireless hand-held gaming unit and the WifiCasino(TM) wireless gaming system, today discussed the “value” and potential uses for the technology embodied in its “Biometrically-Secured Portable Wireless Entertainment, Shopping & Gaming System” pending patent application.GS2 Wireless Gambling Products; Cellular Gambling Applications; Non-Gambling Applications

GS2 Products. The pictured GS2 model features a 6-inch screen and is the largest GS2 model, while other models feature 4-inch and 3-inch screens. The design of all GS2 models is being updated to include all of Diamond I’s patent-pending biometric security technology, specifically its “voice-print” and finger-print security technologies. Diamond I has designed three GS2 model sizes to permit client-casinos to offer a GS2 hand-held unit that is compatible with their respective clienteles and is able to assure these client-casinos that only authorized guests are enjoying the GS2 experience. Diamond I believes that the GS2 is the first newly-designed wireless hand-held gaming device introduced since the Nevada Gaming Commission adopted final regulations implementing Nevada Law AB471, which authorizes the use of mobile communication devices for gaming in public areas in Nevada casinos. More information about the GS2 and to play GS2 games, visit http://www.diamondiinc.com/.

Cellular-Gambling Applications

Through product offerings that embody its patent-pending voice-recognition biometric security technology, Diamond I intends to pursue cellular-gambling opportunities in international markets. The company believes its voice-print technology will make it easier to implement user-friendly cellular-gambling over cell phones, including the new generation of video-enabled cell phones. This voice-print technology dove-tails with the company’s recently acquired Touchpoker.com assets (http://www.touchpoker.com/) which are designed for cellular gaming uses.

Non-Gambling Applications

Diamond I believes the unrecognized, or “hidden,” value of its voice-and-finger-print technologies lies in non-gambling applications. In the post-9/11 era, the need for strict security procedures has often clashed with Americans’ desire for privacy and business and government are seeking less invasive security measures that do not sacrifice safety. Diamond I’s board of directors has directed the company’s management to develop near-term and long-range strategies for bringing to market security products that embody Diamond I’s biometric security technologies. The company’s management has begun to develop these strategies and is examining the applications that the company’s biometric security technologies could have in the financial services, travel and tourism industries.

AuthenTec CEO Scott Moody will discuss the role of biometrics in mobile commerce, and the company will showcase the latest in fingerprint sensor applications and technology for government, commercial and consumer markets at the 2006 Biometrics Technology Expo September 19-21 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Mr. Moody will highlight how cell phones enable secure mobile commerce in his presentation “The Growing and Future Use of Cell Phones in Payments” September 19 at 3:30 p.m. AuthenTec provides fingerprint sensors to nearly five million biometric cell phones that are being used for mobile transactions in Asia — with recent surveys showing that U.S. residents are anxious for the same capabilities.

AuthenTec also will showcase the most advanced biometric fingerprint sensor solutions throughout the conference at booth #411. In the government market, AuthenTec provides the broadest family of fingerprint sensor solutions for border entry, physical access, logical access, and network access applications. AuthenTec’s smallest sensors are used in the largest U.S. government biometrics application for the Census Bureau. In the commercial and consumer markets, AuthenTec sensors are widely used in notebook and tablet PCs to provide advanced security and to replace the need for passwords — allowing authorized users to easily and quickly access their files by simply touching or sliding their finger across the sensor surface. This restricts access to the computer and its files to only those enrolled, reducing the risk of theft or fraud.