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Hitachi to Globally Expand Finger Vein Authentication System Sales

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 October 2005, 12:00 CDT

By Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Oct. 11--TOKYO -- Hitachi Ltd. said Tuesday it will seek to expand global sales of finger vein authentication systems to 100 billion yen for three years from next April and capture more than 50 percent of the world market for such systems.

The major electronics firm is confident that demand will grow for finger vein authentication systems for safe and secure personal identification, it said. In Japan, the systems are currently used by some banks for automated teller machines.

Hitachi said it plans to set up special groups in North America, Europe, Asia and China to drive sales of the systems under a finger vein authentication business center at its head office in Tokyo.

"We would like to develop the finger vein authentication system into a global standard originating from Japan," said Executive Vice President Kazuo Furukawa.

Fingerprints and iris codes have so far been more commonly used for biometric security systems. But fingerprints can be copied easily and iris identification systems are too large.

In contrast, Hitachi said, the finger vein authentication system is small and checks vein patterns that are hidden in bodies and difficult to be copied.

In addition to ATMs, finger vein authentication systems will be useful for entrance identification, limited access to personal computers and vehicle engine keys, the company said.

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Copyright (c) 2005, Kyodo News International, Tokyo

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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HIT, 6501,

Source: Kyodo News International, Tokyo

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