Printrak's release is very worrisome to me, especially the following -
>>>State law enforcement agencies are anxious to have cross jurisdictional capabilities in addition to access to FBI records because the FBI repository will contain only a subset of state and local agency databases, Higgins added.
In addition, Printrak is introducing a NIST server to manage transactions between Printrak and other vendor equipment, which include more than fingerprint records. ''Many agencies are integrating their fingerprint systems with criminal history systems, mugshot storage, document image archives and other elements of a criminal justice information network,'' Giles said.
''Agencies that expect to regularly send and fulfill information requests across jurisdictional and vendor boundaries will gain an operational advantage if NIST messages of all types are consolidated and controlled by a common server.''
In addition, agencies typically take care of their own constituents before an out-of-state request, especially when volume exceeds staff capacity. These fingerprint searches typically require a technician review of system matches. To address this situation, Printrak offers its customers the ability to run a ''lights out'' (unattended) operation with its unique ExperMatching software. <<<
I talked to a Wall Street analyst that follows Printrak yesterday. He told me that Printrak wins against NEC and Morpho because they have the best technology. NEC is obligated to use all NEC hardware to maximize their profit margins, but NEC doesn't always have the best hardware. Printrak is free to choose from all the hardware vendors to put together the best system. When NEC wins it is usually on price.
Also Printrak's venture to put together a complete, integrated package for law enforcement may give them leverage into the mobile scanning units for police cars.
NEC and Morpho need to get off their butts! |
