Gothenburg-based Fingerprint Cards AB (FPC) has announced the launch of FPC AllKey Ultra, the next evolution in its fingerprint system family, which integrates a Secure Element (SE) to address high-security market needs.
The new product follows the successful market reception of the FPC AllKey system, which was introduced in Q3 2024. The key upgrade in the FPC AllKey Ultra is the integration of a Secure Element — a dedicated, tamper-resistant chip designed to act as a digital vault. This SE safely stores sensitive data such as encryption keys and biometric templates, ensuring they can never be accessed or modified by unauthorized software-level attacks.
Targeting Hardware-Bound Passkey Market
This addition is a direct strategic move to target the fast-growing, high-security segments of the authentication market. FPC explicitly named FIDO tokens/passkeys, crypto wallets, digital ID, and one-time password (OTP) generators as the target applications for the AllKey Ultra.
This launch represents FPC’s clear bet on the future of passkey authentication. As the industry debates the merits of “synced” (cloud-based) passkeys versus “device-bound” (hardware-based) passkeys, FPC is providing the core, all-in-one component for the “device-bound” camp. For high-value assets, such as enterprise access credentials or crypto assets, hardware-bound security enforced by an SE is widely considered the gold standard. By fusing the biometric sensor with the SE, FPC has created the essential “biometric passkey” engine for hardware OEMs like YubiKey or Ledger.
The development comes as major platforms roll out passkey support and payment providers integrate FIDO authentication, signaling mainstream adoption of passwordless authentication standards.
Ultra-Thin Form Factors
In addition to its security features, FPC noted that the AllKey Ultra supports new ultra-thin, side-mounted form factors, as well as traditional surface-mount applications. This subtle design detail signals FPC’s ambition to move beyond its traditional markets (like smart cards and rear-of-phone sensors) and compete for new, space-constrained slots, such as the side-mounted power button on laptops and phones, or in next-generation smart glasses and wearables.
FPC has a long history of integration with FIDO security products, having previously supplied sensors for FIDO2 biometric security keys from manufacturers like Feitian.
FPC will showcase the FPC AllKey Ultra for the first time at Trustech 2025 in Paris in early December.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
