Biometrics for mobile phone market to grow 500 percent by 2015

Published 5 July 2011

A recently released report projects that the market for biometric security devices on mobile phones will reach $161 million by 2015, an increase of $30 million; the analysis found that embedded fingerprint sensors in mobile phones will primarily drive growth in this market as more firms seek additional security measures for mobile phones; voice biometrics is also expected to be another large driver of growth

A recently released report projects that the market for biometric security devices on mobile phones will reach $161 million by 2015, an increase of $30 million.

The analysis, conducted by Goode Intelligence, found that embedded fingerprint sensors in mobile phones will primarily drive growth in this market as more firms seek additional security measures for mobile phones. Voice biometrics is also expected to be another large driver of growth, as they are likely to be used as part of a multi-factor authentication system.

Alan Goode, the report’s author and founder of Goode Intelligence, said, “We believe a biometric groundswell is building. The market is currently slow; but pressure is growing. The conditions are ripe for rapid change; for biometrics to move from an ‘interesting concept’ to a ‘must have’ for all smart mobile devices.”

As evidence, Goode pointed to Motorola’s efforts.

“Motorola has been heavily marketing the security benefits of using biometrics (fingerprint sensor) to protect its latest Android smartphone, the Atrix. It is even being called the ‘James Bond’ smartphone,” he said.

With the increasing use of mobile phones to store large quantities of data or conduct transactions, more companies are expected to turn to biometric authentication, the report concludes.

Key drivers include device security protection, mobile commerce, contactless technology, multi-factor authentication, and military and law enforcement applications, such as capturing biometric data and verifying identity in the field.