Precise Biometrics in Portugese deal
Swedish biometric company receives follow-on order to deliver 1,400 combined fingerprint-smart card readers to Portugal by the end of the year; contract is part of Portugal’s ambitious Cartão do Cidadão project
Following its success in winning a deal for the Portuguese ID card earlier this year, Lund, Sweden-based Precise Biometrics says it has received a follow-on order linked to the project via its partner Zetes Burótica. Precise Biometrics is working with Zetes Burótica which distributes and integrates hardware, and is also a supplier of components and services to Portugal’s national ID card program. Under the terms of the deal, 1,400 Precise 250 MC fingerprint readers will be delivered by the end of the year. The Precise 250 MC is a combined fingerprint and smart card reader, and will be used during the card activation process.
The new Portuguese ID is called Cartão do Cidadão (Citizen Card). It was launched by the Portugese government in April 2005 with the catchy slogan “melhor para si, melhor para todos.” The card contains biometric information and replaces five previous cards: the health care card, tax payer’s card, the social security card, and the traditional ID card. The rollout of the new Citizen Card began during Spring 2007 and 14 million cards will be rolled out to Portuguese citizens over a seven-year period.
