French handset manufacturer Sagem Wireless has revealed plans to launch a Google Android phone that incorporates fingerprint authentication technology that would help secure mobile financial services.
The firm is working with biometric fingerprint specialist Upek to bring the technology to a range of devices, including Android-based devices, in the next year.
The parters will also offer up an open, standards-based platform, enabling application developers, operators and manufacturers to tap the technology for things like m-banking and commerce.
Sagem Wireless says biometrics is both more secure and easier to use than current username, password and account number-based systems.
Jerome Nadel, EVP, marketing and user experience, Sagem Wireless, says: "Both security and usability are critical to reducing perceptions of risk, improving convenience, and encouraging usage. Biometric solutions such as fingerprint sensors simplify the process of user identification, providing faster and more secure access to personalised services and transactions."