Motorola wins Norwegian visa and passports contract

Published 5 December 2006

System will be among the first in Europe to meet “multi-mode” European Union standards for fingerprints, 2D face, and signature capture; to ease transition, software will be produced in multiple Norwegian dialects and languages; deal shows Motorola establishing itself in a competitive market

When we have reported in the past about Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola (NYSE: MOT), it has typically been in regards to the company’s Printrak Biometric Identification Solution for law enforcement. We would be remiss, however, if we did not also note that the company’s biometric chops are just as strong in the identity authentication business as well. Just this week, for instance, the company announced that the government of Norway had awarded it a contract to provide for the collection and verification of biometric data for Norwegian passports, visas and other travel documents. The system to be installed will be among the first in Europe to meet “multi-mode” European Union standard that requires fingerprints, 2D face, and signature capture.

Motorola will supply approximately 700 fixed enrollment stations for use in

Norway and a further 100 portable versions for use in embassies and

other enrollment centers around the globe. In more remote areas, the software will even feature local languages to make adoption as smooth as possible.

Simplicity is the key to making these systems work for us,” said Elin Ostebo Johansen, director general in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is very important to us that we offer people an easy way to apply for a passport or visa that include new biometric requirements. The enrolment process will be fast and intuitive, collecting biometric data at the same time as the demographic information that has always been required.”

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