OKI Introduces Iris Recognition for Camera Phones

Oki Electric Industry announced that it has developed Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals. The technology is based on OKI's original iris recognition algorithm using standard optical cameras found in mobile terminals.

"We are very pleased to introduce this technology which will enable manufacturers to include iris recognition technology in their mobile phones and PDAs. Users will now be able to utilize their mobile terminals with security and peace of mind," said Teruo Iijima, General Manager of Business Incubation Division at Oki Electric Industry. "This technology was developed with our own algorithm, which provides highly accurate authentication and, compared to conventional locks such as typing in PIN numbers, provides easier access for authentication."

As mobile terminals become more sophisticated, new services such as payments by mobile phone and enterprise information management are becoming commonly used. Users and equipment manufacturers have been drawing attention to the incorporation of personal authentication in such equipment to prevent misuse when the terminals are lost or stolen. Iris recognition is an authentication technology that uses the iris pattern in the eye. Because the iris pattern is complex and random, making it difficult to find a recognizable rule, it provides authentication with a high degree of accuracy.

OKI has been providing its iris recognition technology-based equipment to government agencies, financial institutions and other enterprises in Japan and overseas. While these devices require a dedicated infrared camera, the new Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals can use a standard camera that is embedded in a mobile terminal, because of the original algorithm OKI has developed. This technology is embodied in a compact program for easy embedding, so it can authenticate the iris fast enough even when using the limited processing capacity of a mobile terminal.

OKI will showcase its Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals at the ITU Telecom World 2006, which will be held at Hong Kong from December 4th to 8th. The product is scheduled for release in March 2007.

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