BIO-key and InterDigital to Introduce OpenID Based Secure Multifactor Authentication for Android Smartphones at Mobile World Congress

WALL, N.J. and WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIO-key International, Inc. BKYI, a global leader in fingerprint biometric identification solutions, advanced mobile authentication and identity assurance technologies, and InterDigital, Inc. IDCC, a wireless research and development company, today announced that the companies will introduce and demonstrate InterDigital's groundbreaking multifactor authentication (MFA) solution incorporating BIO-key's fingerprint authentication for the Android mobile platform at Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona, Spain (February 24-27). The newly developed solution is the first product to emerge from the collaborative efforts between BIO-key and InterDigital, announced in February 2013. The new product will be available for scheduled demonstrations at InterDigital's pavilion in Hall 7 Stand 7A71.

The new product is tailor-made to address consumer authentication needs for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other large-scale service providers. Featuring full compliance with OpenID (OID) and capable of leveraging Trustonic's Global Platform compliant Trusted Execution Environment and API, InterDigital's MFA combines the most secure and transparent device level authentication with user-specific authentication options that leverage BIO-key's interoperable fingerprint matching capabilities. The product is designed to utilize a variety of authentication factors and include support for FIDO authenticators. The architecture accommodates alternative federated authentication methods besides OID and BIO-key's existing IAM integration with the IBM, CA and Oracle security platforms.

InterDigital's MFA architecture incorporates seamless and secure device-based authentication, isolated from device components which can be spoofed or cloned. The solution achieves this by leveraging the hardened and transparent device authentication technology already in use by MNOs to identify a wireless device, outside the reach of the applications on the device itself. Fully backward compatible with existing password-based authentication systems, once the device is authenticated, the user is in turn authenticated using BIO-key's WEB-key platform by swiping on any integrated fingerprint scanner. Biometric matching may occur either in the device or in the cloud, depending on the user's preference.

"Consumers are frequently being asked to authenticate to the services they access on their mobile devices, and the need to remember multiple passwords, usernames and other credentials is becoming a serious obstacle to rolling out new, easier-to-use services. Stronger, more secure authentication that is also convenient is needed by both consumers and service providers in order to realize the full potential of what mobile computing brings to consumers," said Jim Nolan, Executive Vice President, Research and Development, at InterDigital. "InterDigital's MFA architecture aims to provide consumers with a seamless and secure authentication experience, and give service providers a granular authentication capability that matches the transaction risk with the assurance of the user accessing the service."

"We have met our development milestones for this project with InterDigital and together address some of the glaring problems in contemporary IAM deployments. Consumers are inundated with the need to remember a plethora of authentication credentials and desire a user-friendly, frictionless and secure authentication experience. Users also want the ability to control access to their own biometric data, wherever it is stored, and shouldn't be prevented from using it to claim and protect their own identity in a cloud based identity ecosystem," stated Mike DePasquale, BIO-key's Chairman and CEO. "Apple created positive momentum for biometric technology with the iPhone 5S and brought this technology into the mainstream. Our flexible MFA architecture embraces both device and network-based authentication capabilities thus meeting the needs of risk-averse third-party service providers who want more than closed, device-only authentication approaches. We see the importance of a hybrid approach to achieve persistent identity proofing – a long lasting physical to digital identity mapping that spans devices. This new platform reduces risk to both service providers and consumers, by enabling secure enrollment, duplicate enrollment prevention and other fraud prevention that on-device designs cannot address alone. The system creates flexibility to authenticate on-device or in the Cloud, while allowing users the right to maintain privacy and control their own information."

MWC is recognized as the leading technology and innovation event for the mobile device and communication industry. The four day event is attended by more than 72,000 including 41,000 C-Level and 4,300+ CEO's. More than 3,400 members of the press will also be attending this year's event.

About BIO-key

BIO-key International, Inc., headquartered in Wall, New Jersey, develops and delivers advanced identification solutions to commercial and government enterprises, integrators, and custom application developers. BIO-key's award winning, high performance, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy biometric finger identification technology accurately identifies and authenticates users of wireless and enterprise applications. Our solutions are used in local embedded OEM products as well as some of the world's largest identification deployments to improve security, guarantee identity, and help reduce identity theft.  BIO-key's technology is offered directly or by market leading partners around the world. (http://www.bio-key.com)

About InterDigital^®

InterDigital develops technologies that are at the core of mobile devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry's most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks and a richer multimedia experience years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world's leading wireless companies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on NASDAQ and is included in the S&PMidCap 400^® index. (http://www.InterDigital.com)

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may be construed as "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act").  The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "anticipates," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements are made based on BIO-key management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, BIO-key management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Act.  These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of these statements.  These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue, our ability to develop new products and evolve existing ones, wider market acceptance of biometric technologies, our ability to raise additional financing, our ability to attract and retain key personnel.  For a more complete description of these and other risk factors that may affect the future performance of BIO-key International, Inc., see "Risk Factors" in the BIO-key's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  BIO-key undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or otherwise.