VoiceKeyID from Porticus

mandate for “Authentication in an Internet Banking Environment” of 2001; Gramm-Leaceh-Biliely Act (GLBA) of 1999, requiring adequate data security safeguards; Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX), section 404 requiring secure identity management; FIBS 201/HSPD-12 – the common identification standard for government employees; and HIPPAA – ensure compliance by assuring only authorized access to health records.

Applications

The company says its voice biometric solution is suitable for banking (mobile banking, mobile bill pay, mobile stock buy/sell, cash management secure token, personal insurance data, wire transfer), and healthcare (EMR [electronic medical records], mobile patient prescription info, mobile patient insurance data, doctor / patient contact info, doctor remote diagnosis). The software also has corporate-centric applications that include (phone, e-mail, contacts, calendar, browser Intranet access, business applications), near field communications (unlocking home entries, vehicles, replacement for Prox car, “out of band” authentication for PC Log-in), m-commerce, and other services which would benefit from this inexpensive authentication method.

The voice biometric solution can also replace a proximity card or physical key for physical access or workforce management — and it offer more security. The military could use the solution for hands-free operation within vehicles and aircraft, while consumers with devices based on Android OS could use the solution for vehicle tracking system, computer attendance and monitoring system, digital home gateway, AM secure-mobile security app., and more.

Demonstrations

Fusion Development Group, FDG, an independent software development shop that produces software across platforms and industries, assisted Porticus in the development of their iPhone demo and AFTEK (a Porticus OEM) demonstrated VoiceKeyID on an Android phone in May at DroidCon in Berlin. The demonstration in Germany showed the software working in thirteen seconds. The authorization process has since been reduced to less than three seconds.

Scalability

VoiceKeyID software has the ability to “tune” or calibrate itself to the audio input and output signals of any supporting “smart” device such as the Symbian and iPhone smartphone platforms. Coming soon is Android, MS Windows, and Blackberry, as well as the Cisco tablet which will be functioning through the Google android OS.

The customer will have two payment options available. They can choose a subscription model, on a pay-per-month basis, or they can pay a onetime fee with a carrier. In the event of an update, downloadable patches will be available to the consumer. For those concerned about the security of the application during shipment from the producer to the customer, all products will be shipped with encryption, and an obfuscated code.

Military and intelligence application

Voice biometrics may also be used in military and intelligence operations. The software is currently undergoing network adaptation at MIT for counter-insurgency applications. The software will be able to discretely “listen in” and intercept the conversation among a group of people, and analyze the voices (which means, in the case of voice biometrics, the identities) of those in the group in order, for example, to pick up a wanted terrorist. This voice identification process promises not only high accuracy, but it also removes the element of danger by proximity in military and intelligence operations.

A recent deal with a major military research and development organization will integrate the software’s capabilities into a multi-modal security provision. This new technology, which may remind some of the use of acoustic identification in shot-location products from companies such as BBN and ShotSpotter, should be ready to demo within the next six to twelve months.