Report: Global Market For Fingerprint Biometrics To Reach $650 Million By 2013
Despite the hype for biometrics in past years, the uptake of these devices has remained slow. Price, user acceptance and legislation continue to be hurdles that limit the use of biometrics. However, recently a few devices have overcome these barriers and found industry niches. In its latest biometrics market report, IMS Research forecasts the global market for fingerprint devices to reach $650 million by 2013.
“Fingerprint recognition devices have been around for a number of years but they were initially commercially unsuccessful, primarily due to their high price,” said IMS Research analyst Justin Siller. “Over time pockets of opportunity have emerged where fingerprint biometrics have started to find real traction.
“The government sector is starting to get behind biometrics. Live scan devices are being utilized by law enforcement and prisons to collect data on criminals. In governmental buildings the use of fingerprint recognition for access control is increasing as governments worldwide look to incorporate higher levels of security. With certain areas of the government sector finding success with fingerprint devices, additional opportunities for the use of biometrics have been created. The government sector has started to use biometrics for new programs including e-passports, border control, visas, national identification, refugee programs, welfare programs, voter cards, benefit fraud, and food programs”.
With government agencies continuing to benefit from the use of fingerprint devices, other industries have started to follow suit as the interest surrounding biometrics grows. Fingerprint solutions are now becoming more commonplace within airports and for border control applications.
Within healthcare they have found a niche in the protection of patient records while in more industrial areas, such as manufacturing, there is an increasing requirement for fingerprint biometrics in time and attendance applications.
“Biometrics is no longer a dream of the past and truly has a bright future ahead,” Siller said.