Fingerprint technology aims to boost mobile e-commerce

OXFORD, United Kingdom—Consumers continue to shun mobile e-commerce because of a lack of confidence in their cell-phone operator to manage secure transactions, claimed a survey by a European security software developer. However, the company reported that users said they would feel more comfortable with mobile e-commerce if different layers of security and biometric solutions are available.
In a separate move, Fujitsu announced it will start selling fingerprint sensors for cell phones later this year, claiming the sensors will provide additional security for consumers. The company said the silicon sensors will make it virtually impossible for third parties to gain access to personal information stored on a handset and hopes its early entry into the technology will enable it to carve out 40 percent of a global market it expects to be worth US$800 million by the end of 2004.
Fujitsu’s confidence in the security market is related to customers of the banking industry who use personal identification numbers (PINs). A recent study said that nearly 60 percent of banking customers had not changed the PIN number that was issued to them by their banks. Of those who have changed their PINs, more than 50 percent chose numbers that would be easy to remember, such as birthdays or phone numbers, while 77 percent said they have their PINs written down and 51 percent said they used the same PIN for different things.