Banks and large companies are the key marketing targets for a HK-based biometric device
A young software engineer and his partners have unveiled a biometric security product applying fingerprint recognition to Internet banking, shopping, personnel management and other uses.
Johnny Ng, 26, chief executive of 303 Co, launched @Finger in Hong Kong last week, although some SAR firms have used it for a few months.
'We are the pioneers in this field, to apply this technology to online systems in Hong Kong,' Mr Ng said.
As a university student, Mr Ng helped start 303 in 1998, and last year was named one of the 'Ten Outstanding Young DigiPersons' by the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Hong Kong Junior Chamber.
Biometric security uses individual characteristics, such as a voice, face or fingerprint. The company records and stores an individual's thumbprint on a plastic card the size of a credit card.
To sign in, the card has to be inserted into a slot linked to the computer, while the user presses a thumb on the scanner.
The sensor, smaller than a joystick, reads and matches the thumb print to the one stored in the computer system.
The system eliminates the use of passwords and could reduce the number of identification cards needed.
North American companies have been using biometrics for some time, but Asia has lagged.
Mr Ng said Asian Internet surfers often did not want to use online services because they were afraid credit-card or banking information would be stolen.
Mr Ng's company invested more than US$1 million in research and salaries.
Its partners include United States companies SecuGen and Authentec, which have developed similar technology.
The US firms would supply the hardware while 303 would provide software and services to Hong Kong and Asian companies, Mr Ng said.
The company is in talks with the Hong Kong Government, which is seeking to bring in a smart card for identification and storage of personal information, such as hospital records.
Several SAR companies were using the @Finger system, including Microsoft's Hong Kong office and Maxim's Caterers, Mr Ng said.
Hong Kong Jockey Club is testing the system for registering employees, while Microsoft has integrated @Finger into its user system and Microsoft conference attendees also used it, Mr Ng said.
Maxim's, with more than 10,000 employees in Hong Kong, uses it to keep human resources records.
Mr Ng expected to see 500 @Finger installations this year, which could generate revenue of US$520,000.
It anticipates 5,000 installations next year, worth an estimated US$5.2 million, and 25,000 installations in 2003.
The company is seeking contracts from Hong Kong's banks and hoping to have agreements with three leading financial institutions this year.
It had applied for patents in the US and China, said Mr Ng, who first saw biometrics at a Comdex technology conference several years ago.
The company expects to add another 100 employees this year to its present 50 roll call in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and add offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei.
