Datastrip Handheld Biometric ID Reader Earns FIPS 201 Approval

March 1st, 2007 — EXTON, Pa. — Datastrip announced today that its DSVII handheld biometric/identification card reader has been approved for purchase by federal agencies under the General Services Administration FIPS 201 evaluation program. The approvals enable the Datastrip device to be used for smart card- and fingerprint-based personal identity verification of federal employees, contractors and first responders in any location, including streets and other mobile sites under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).

The DSVII is the first single fingerprint capture device on the GSA approved list as well as the first contact smart card reader with card holder unique identifier (CHUID) capabilities for authenticating digital identification information. The units smart card reader also can read contactless identity documents.

Each DSVII device includes a built-in 500 dpi fingerprint sensor for instant matching of a live fingerprint to a biometric template, plus a contact/contactless smart card reader for reading PIV 2.0 documents such as Common Access Cards (CAC), Transportation Worker ID Cards (TWIC) and emergency responder credentials.

Fingerprint matching results as well as photos and ID information decoded from ID cards or retrieved from back-end databases are displayed on the units large color touch screen display, which is readable in direct sunlight or low-light conditions. The base unit weighs only two pounds for easy portability.

The DSVII’s inclusion on the GSA’s FIPS 201 approved product list certifies that the product has met the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 201 requirements and can be purchased without separate authorization by the GSA. All evaluation criteria and approved products are listed at fips201ep.cio.gov.

“This approval is a milestone for HSPD-12 deployments, not only because the DSVII is the first single fingerprint/smart card reader to meet FIPS 201 qualifications but also because it offers mobile capabilities that make it possible to check identities even where there are no fixed security checkpoints,” said Roger Morrison, Datastrip Director of Federal Sales. Security personnel can use the reader anywhere in a building or on the grounds, on the street, on boats in port, in disaster scenarios and so on. This significantly increases security by extending the perimeter beyond hardwired locations.”

Datastrip’s DSVII can connect to a wired or wireless network via 802.11g, Bluetooth, or cellular networks for checking a cardholder’s credentials against a back-end database; house an on-board database for standalone operation without network connectivity; store data for later transfer to a primary database; and support all major fingerprint algorithms including Cogent, NEC, Motorola’s Printrak, Identix and Bioscrypt.

The unit runs on the Windows CE.NET 5.0 operating system for easy development of custom applications, utilizes a SH4 RISC processor that supports fast biometric matching as well as more complex applications, and is available directly from Datastrip or through the company’s network of resellers and system integrators.

About Datastrip

Datastrip is a leading provider of biometric verification devices and 2D bar code software with associated hardware. Datastrip and its integration partners provide total solutions for production of ID cards, passports, national ID cards, drivers licenses, voter registration cards, health cards, financial cards, birth certificates and other identity documents, as well as mobile AFIS and biometric verification systems. For more information, call 800-548-2517 or visit www.datastrip.com.