ImageWare Systems To Integrate AFIS Information
ImageWare Systems Inc., a developer of identity management solutions, recently announced a strategic, multi-year licensing agreement with Lockheed Martin for its Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). ImageWare will use AFIS to deliver more comprehensive identification solutions, specifically targeting local governments.
Under the terms of the agreement, ImageWare will license and integrate the Lockheed Martin AFIS into its IWS Biometric Engine product. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"ImageWare has established long-standing relationships with local governments with our law enforcement and identity management products, anchored by our Biometric Engine platform," said Jim Miller, ImageWare's chairman and CEO. "We believe the combination of AFIS and our unique open-architected technology, which allows for the use of multiple biometrics, will provide our local government customers with the ability to rapidly reduce the criminal identification time period as well as to achieve quick compliance with emerging multi-modal biometric standards for law enforcement set by the federal government. We are eager to extend this offering to the local justice and public safety markets."
According to a recent Frost & Sullivan study on the North American Criminal AFIS market, the local law enforcement AFIS market presents enormous growth potential for vendors.
"The criminal AFIS market in North America was perceived to be nearing saturation. However the key growth driver has been the demand from local governments for their own AFIS. There has been steady growth since the last two years and this trend is expected to continue in the long term," said Imran Khan, Frost & Sullivan biometric research analyst.