Aadhaar Brings NEXT Biometrics Another Fingerprint Reader Order

NEXT Biometrics has received another order for its fingerprint recognition technology related to India’s Aadhaar program.

Valued at $417,400, the order will see NEXT Biometrics fingerprint readers shipped to India during the second and third quarters of this year. Sixty percent of the payment has been provided upfront.

In announcing the order, NEXT Biometrics explained that it will see its biometric technology used in the distribution of food supplies to Tamil Nadu citizens. Recipients will be authenticated in reference to Aadhaar, India’s pioneering biometric national ID program, which supports fingerprint identification.

The order comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing practices have raised concerns about the use of contact-based fingerprint readers. Nevertheless, even though Aadhaar also supports facial and iris recognition, it appears that government authorities in India remain enthusiastic about fingerprint-based authentication.

For NEXT Biometrics’ part, its head of sales for India, Vishal Pandole, appeared upbeat about the company’s prospects going forward. “The local network of partners and distributors that NEXT has established in India is key for our continued success in government programs,” he said. “This adds to the superior performance, reliability and user-friendliness of our sensor technology proven in numerous real-life projects and use-cases in India.”

NEXT Biometrics CEO Peter Heuman, meanwhile, emphasized the social importance of the Aadhaar system. “We are pleased that NEXT products are providing tools for local governments in India focused at improving living standards and providing social benefits for its populations,” he said.

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June 22, 2020 – by Alex Perala