AuthenTec, a biometric semiconductor company, has made availabile the EntrePad AES2500, a fingerprint slide sensor featuring TruePrint Technology, allowing fingerprints to be read below the surface of the skin, that is optimized to enhance wireless and PDA device security and is priced at $6 per unit for OEMs.

The AES2500 is designed to fit today's smallest wireless and PDA devices, providing security and password replacement. Featuring advanced power management along with 2.4V low power operation, the company claims the AES2500 is ideal for OEMs integrating fingerprint technology into battery operated mobile devices.

"The AES2500 is now the most secure slide sensor on the market. A user simply has to swipe his or her finger to benefit from a convenient and secure password replacement system and gain swift access to personal data," said Steve Mansfield, Vice President of Marketing for AuthenTec. "And for OEMs, the low $6 price point will drive faster adoption into consumer products."

AuthenTec TruePrint Technology is designed to eliminate any acquisition or recognition failures relating to contamination such as dirt, grime, dry skin or excessive moisture - issues that are problematic with surface imaging fingerprint sensors.

The company said the AES2500 includes complete software support for Microsoft Windows 98, Me, NT, Win2000, and Windows XP operating systems. For consumer products, Symbian and Windows CE operating systems are also supported. A line of OEM hardware and software design kits will be made available. Engineering samples and pre-production samples are slated to be available in February 2003.