Apple Acquires AuthenTec, Potentially A Key Piece In Mobile Payments

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.

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    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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