Apple Acquires AuthenTec, Potentially A Key Piece In Mobile Payments

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Following Apple's acquisition of AuthenTec for $355 million, analysts are saying the purchase could give iPhone and iPad users a new way to authenticate mobile payments.

AuthenTec specializes in security solutions, including fingerprint-based authentication systems for mobile devices and laptop computers. Neil Shah, an analyst at Strategy Analytics, tells Mobile Commerce Daily that he sees a clear vision for how this might help Apple in payments.

“AuthenTec will bring its patented ‘swipe sensors’ technology to multi-touch devices such as iPod, iPhones and iPads to enable accurate fingerprint solutions,”  Shah told the news outlet. “Fingerprint initially will be just the first step towards authenticating and enabling the mobile wallet instead of entering a pin followed by either tapping the phone (using NFC, Bluetooth) or through Internet and making the final payment."

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