Michael,
I think that this is additive to Vcoms system. I don't think that it replaces anything that NRI may or may not supply to Vcom.
Celo Communications and Veridicom Partner to Provide PKI-based Internet Security Solutions Using Fingerprint Identification
Partnership Combines Industry-leading Encryption with Strong User
Authentication to Enable Easy and Secure E-commerce
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Celo Communications, a leading global provider of security products for Internet commerce and communications, and Veridicom, a Lucent Technologies spin-off and the leading provider of silicon-based fingerprint authentication technology, today announced the companies are collaborating to combine CeloCom's industry-leading Internet commerce encryption technology with Veridicom's personal fingerprint verification technology. As a result of the partnership, customers will be able to take advantage of advanced fingerprint identification technology to gain an easier and safer level of security for a variety of applications, such as controlling access to networks and the Internet, accessing confidential databases, such as medical records, or authorizing financial transactions.
The partnership between Celo Communications and Veridicom creates a unique combination of strong encryption and leading-edge biometric-based user verification to address a nagging hurdle in electronic commerce: security. Today, access to the Internet and confidential information is typically protected through passwords or PINs, which unfortunately can easily be forgotten or intercepted. Veridicom leverages fingerprint authentication technology to allow end users access to protected information by inserting a smart card that carries a representation of the user's fingerprint, called a fingerprint template.
Instead of requiring a PIN code, the network authenticates the user based on a match between the template on the card and the user's scanned fingerprint template. By integrating Veridicom's technology with Celo Communications' PKI solution, customers can use fingerprints to protect private keys and digital certificates in lieu of passwords or PIN codes, thereby creating the higher level of Internet security while keeping the process simple and convenient for OEMs and consumers.
"This partnership creates a perfect marriage of technologies that will allow highly-secure Internet commerce for a wide range of applications and markets," said Tom Rowley, founder of Veridicom. "The integration of Celo Communications' full-strength encryption with Veridicom's leading-edge user verification technology will revolutionize the way information is accessed and protected."
"We are excited to be teaming up with Celo Communications, a leader in PKI-based security solutions," said Mike D'Amour, CEO of Veridicom. "We see CeloCom's technology as playing a key role in making the Internet a safer place to conduct business, and we look forward to developing future system security products together."
"CeloCom and Veridicom's partnership will certainly make it easier and safer for individuals to prove who they are, without compromising their privacy. We will use the finger print authentication security in a Swedish pilot project," said Sven Hammar, president and chief executive officer, Celo Communications. However, given both companies' commitment to open standards, the true advantage of this partnership is the ability to utilize the technology in a variety of systems and applications as the growth of the Internet and intranets continues to expand."
About Veridicom
Veridicom, Inc. is the leading provider of silicon-based fingerprint authentication technology. The company develops and markets OpenTouch, a complete system of hardware and software modules, to OEMs, value-added resellers and systems integrators. Veridicom's unique open architecture has enabled the company to become the most integrated provider of fingerprint authentication technology, with established customers and partners in the laptop, desktop and enterprise computing industries. The company's roster of integration partners also includes systems security and smart card providers. Additional information is available at www.veridicom.com.
About Celo Communications
Celo Communications provides strong, comprehensive security solutions for conducting Internet commerce and communications safely in the global marketplace. Its products employ public-key infrastructure (PKI) technology to provide enterprises with end-to-end security for web-enabling their legacy applications. Celo's security solutions integrate easily with legacy systems, providing important time-to-market advantages for its customers, which include the two largest insurance companies in Sweden, two of the largest banks in Sweden, the Swedish national telephone company, the Dutch government's tax network, NATO military networks and Deutsche Telekom. Celo also sells its products to system integrators, who in turn, use the technology to provide complete PKI security solutions to their customers.
Incorporated in October 1997, Celo Communications has offices in the U.S., Sweden, Ireland, Holland and Germany.
SOURCE Celo Communications
CO: Celo Communications; Veridicom, Inc.
ST: California
IN: MLM CPR
SU:
01/26/99 08:32 EST prnewswire.com
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