LG Electronics and Banque Tec introduce potent security option for card-based environment with integration of Iris Biometric in MIFARE® DESFire Card

Washington DC, October 1, 2003 — The National Summit on Security witnessed another step forward in smart-card/biometric integration as LG Electronics and Banque Tec collaborated to unveil the first broadly available MIFARE® DESFire reader working with an encrypted smart-card containing iris biometric template embedded in the chip.

The mover combines the first operating MIFARE® DESFire reader, the high integrity authentication and unmatched accuracy delivered by LG’s IrisAccess 3000, latest model of the world’s leading deployed iris recognition platform, and a high security contactless smart-card providing triple DES encryption between the card and reader over the RFID link. “Designated by the US Military as the design standard for CAC/Common Access card, the combination of card, our new reader and the robustness of LG’s proven IrisAccess 3000 system will open many new doors in both the government and private sector” said John Genner, CEO of Banque Tec, an Australian based company headquartered in Sydney, Australia with offices in London and Los Angeles.

“We are thrilled to be offering the DESFire smart-card integration with Banque Tec” said David Johnston, VP-Marketing at LG Electronics’ Iris Technology Division. “Increasing the ease with which our product can be integrated-whether into access panels, or existing prox and smart-card systems is a key part of our go to market strategy. To be able to offer an important solution like DESFire this early on the adoption curve should prime us for opportunities with Government customers both here and abroad.”

About LG Electronics, Iris Technology Division

LG Electronics, a principal component of South Korea’s LG Corp. has been active in iris recognition research, development and production since 1997. Today the US-based LG Iris Technology Division has global responsibility for all of the Company’s iris recognition activities. LG IrisAccess® is the world’s leading deployed iris recognition platform and in thousands of locations authenticating the identities of millions and millions of persons. More people look to LG IrisAccess® for iris-based authentication than to all other iris recognition products combined. To find out more, visit www.lgiris.com.