Precise Biometrics, a provider of solutions for fingerprint recognition, has won an order to supply a software upgrade for the US Department of State's biometric employee ID card program. The total order value for Precise Biometrics is SEK4 million.

The software upgrade adds Windows Vista support to the existing Precise Match-on-Card solution at the state department. According to Precise Biometrics, the Precise Match-on-Card technology enables government employees at American embassies and consulates all over the world to log onto networks and systems using their fingerprints. The order, which is worth SEK4 million, comprises licenses and toolkits that enables existing Precise Match-on-Card software and already deployed fingerprint readers to comply with Windows Vista. On-site support and integration services are also included in the order. The delivery will be made during September and October 2008.

The US Department of State is rolling out the Match-on-Card solution to new users on a monthly basis and will within a few years have more than 60,000 users enrolled in the system. The Precise Match-on-Card is the process of storing and matching fingerprint information on a smart card to establish the presence of an individual. As the fingerprint information does not leave the card, there is no need for a database and the cardholder's integrity is preserved.

According to the Department of State's own calculations, the biometric logon system saves the organization millions of US dollars annually in reduced password administration costs.

Thomas Marschall, CEO of Precise Biometrics, said: "The US Department of State is running the biometric government ID card program to date. The department has used and endorsed our technology for years, and we are proud that they expand their use of our Match-on-Card and continue to invest in this system. This is also hands on proof that Match-on-Card prove can co-exist with PIV. We have seen that biometric employee programs like this have attracted interest in other American agencies as well as from governments in countries worldwide, mainly due to its success and advantages when it comes to security, cost-efficiency and interoperability."