iPhones increasingly used as a biometric solution for law enforcement
08 December, 2011
category: Biometrics, Government
Thanks to device add-ons from companies, such as Fulcrum Biometrics, the iPhone is seeing increase in demand as a tool for law enforcement, according to a Cult of Mac article.
The solution Fulcrum has developed is called mobileOne, a fingerprint-based device that slips over an iPhone or iPod Touch and interfaces with the iPhone or iPod to turn it into a mobile fingerprint collecting and matching solution.
In addition to allowing a user to collect fingerprint data, the phones also can then compare results to remote databases such as FBI or local law enforcement biometric databases through utilizing WiFi or other wireless communication available on the phone.
While the solution has seen increased use and interest by state and local-level law enforcement agencies, the biggest hurdle to get the solution rolled out are state IT agencies. However, as the mobileOne is expected to undergo trials for approval by the FBI in 2012, it could become widely available for use by any law enforcement agency in the future.
Fulcrum developed the add-on for the iPhone, as opposed to other handsets, because they are uniformly built and designed by Apple.
Read the full story here.