LUND, Sweden, Oct. 9, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Precise Biometrics AB (publ) (Other OTC:PBMTF) (Stockholm:PRECa), which develops and markets world-leading user-friendly fingerprint-based biometric security solutions, is now delivering fingerprint readers for tests within the schools in Stockholm City. Altogether there are about 80,000 teachers and students at over 170 schools who use Stockholm school networks and who can now begin using their fingerprints instead of a password when logging on.
The background to the decision to test fingerprint verification instead of passwords for login to Stockholm school networks lies in difficulties that the schools had experienced with the existing login routines. The most common issues that younger students faced were difficulties in keeping track of and remembering passwords, and that older students occasionally borrowed or otherwise got hold of user names and passwords belonging to other students.
"Above all, we expect great administrative advantages with fingerprint-based login. We spend a great deal of time on lost and forgotten passwords, which is wasted time we could be spending on more important tasks. We see the fingerprint-based solution as a much more efficient alternative than the traditional system with passwords," said Samir Hamouni, project manager at Stockholm City IT Department.
Magnus Stenberg, director, Scandinavian Accounts at Precise Biometrics commented: "It has been a special challenge working with this project, because we had limited experience with how our technology worked with children's fingers. It proved to work just fine, and it's great to see how easily children learn to use the new technology."
The solution includes fingerprint readers from Precise Biometrics and software from the Saflink Corporation. Data Construction, which is a distributor for Precise Biometrics and Saflink, is very optimistic about the project:
"We are very pleased to be able to deliver a solution where we immediately see the positive effects. The students get an easier way to log in and the IT divisions start saving time and money. We now hope that other schools in Sweden will follow this example and realize the advantages of using fingerprints rather than passwords," said Jeppe Gadd, product manager at Data Construction.
The project commenced in February 2001 with a test installation of 60 users at the Kvarnbyskolan School in Rinkeby. In March the same year, the installation was extended to include the entire school with 450 students and teachers. Both teachers and students were very pleased with the new login system, and discovered not only that the new technology facilitated network login for the students but also that it resulted in cost-savings through the reduced password administration while bringing increased security to the network.
Precise Biometrics is an innovative security company that supplies world-leading systems for authentication using fingerprints. The solutions supplied by the company replace keys, PIN codes and passwords. The company's products are cost effective and provide security and comfort combined with topclass protection of personal integrity. The range of products includes systems for access control to computers and networks and for building into mobile and terminals, such as mobile phones and portable computers. The company headquarters are in Lund, Sweden. The company also has offices in Stockholm and a U.S. subsidiary in Washington, D.C. Precise Biometrics is listed on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange (symbol: PREC A). For additional information, visit www.precisebiometrics.com