Press Release

 

 

World’s First Fingerprint-enabled Netbook Features AuthenTec TruePrint® Technology and Touch-powered Functionality

 

- New ASUS Eee PC 1004DN is the first to offer fingerprint multi-functionality in a lightweight netbook

 MELBOURNE, Fla., April 1, 2009 – AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH) - the world’s leading provider of fingerprint sensors and solutions - announced that its fingerprint sensors are now a standard feature in the world’s first netbook to offer fingerprint security and multi-functionality.   The new ASUS Eee PC 1004DN is the first netbook to integrate a fingerprint sensor, AuthenTec’s small form factor AES1610. 

“We continue to expand our award-winning lineup of Eee PCs and are delighted to offer a new model that brings AuthenTec’s Power of Touch to ASUS netbook users for the very first time, our new Eee PC 1004DN,” said Stanley Chang, ASUS EEPC Product Director.  “Millions of ASUS notebook PCs have included an AuthenTec sensor for convenient user security and personalization, and now we’re adding these same touch-powered features and functionality to our newest netbook model as we strive to bring a wider range of choices to today’s cost conscious yet highly mobile ASUS netbook user.” 

“We are extremely pleased that our first netbook design win is with the market leader in this growing segment and a longtime customer, ASUS,” said Tom Aebli, AuthenTec vice president of PC products.  “We are expanding our total solutions for this high-growth segment and look forward to bringing additional offerings to the netbook and consumer PC market during the coming months.” 

According to IDC, the netbook segment of the PC market grew to 10 million units in 2008 and is expected to double in 2009.  AuthenTec is targeting this segment of the market -- lower cost consumer PCs and netbooks -- with new sensors and client applications that enhance the user experience.  ASUS’ Eee PC 1004DN leverages AuthenTec Power of Touch® features of the AES1610 including fingerprint Windows log-in, website log-in and password replacement, file and folder encryption and fast user switching with the simple swipe of a finger. 

At a lightweight 3.2 pounds (1.45 kilograms), the Eee PC 1004DN features a 10-inch WSVGA display, a Super-Multi optical disc drive, 120 GB PATA storage, 1 GB of DDR2 SO-DIMM memory, 1.3 Megapixel web cam, Express Card expansion slot, a 1.66 GHz Intel Atom N280/GN40 processor, integrated 802.11b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth® Connection, Genuine Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system and ASUS’ Security Protect Manager (ASPM) feature to enhance PC and user security.  ASPM allows the ASUS netbook to run applications securely and to make transactions and communications more trustworthy.  AuthenTec’s fingerprint authentication is a key component of end-to-end security for ASPM.  

AuthenTec’s AES1610 is one of several small form factor sensors that the company now offers for the PC and wireless markets.  Millions of today’s PCs include the AES1610 to enable security, convenience, personalization, and navigation.  Based on the Company’s patented TruePrint® technology to deliver extremely accurate and reliable fingerprint imaging, the AES1610 reads below the surface of the skin to the live layer, where a person’s true fingerprint resides.  This subsurface approach enables AuthenTec sensors to overcome common skin surface conditions to read virtually every fingerprint, every time.  TruePrint allows AuthenTec to offer the smallest sensors on the market, yet provide all the security, privacy and convenience afforded in its larger form factor devices. 

About ASUS

ASUS is a leading company in the new digital era. With a global staff of more than ten thousand and a world-class R&D design team, the company’s revenue for 2008 was 8.1 billion U.S. dollars. ASUS ranks among the top 10 IT companies in BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100”, and has been on the listing for 11 consecutive years. 

About AuthenTec

With more than 45 million sensors sold worldwide, AuthenTec is the world leader in providing fingerprint authentication sensors and solutions to the high-volume PC, wireless device, and access control markets. AuthenTec's award-winning sensors take full advantage of The Power of Touch® by utilizing the company's patented TruePrint® technology to deliver the most convenient, reliable and cost-effective means available for enabling touch-powered features that extend beyond user authentication. 

#  #  #