FPC Unveils Biometric System for PCs

Fingerprint Cards (FPC) has introduced a comprehensive biometric system targeting PC manufacturers. This system is grounded in a custom-designed microcontroller unit (MCU) allied with a fingerprint sensor tailored to meet the demands of personal computers. This launch heralds FPC’s continued endeavors to solidify its foothold in the PC biometrics domain, following the inclusion of its Match-on-Chip solution for PCs in Microsoft’s Approved Vendor List (AVL) for Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security in 2022​​.

The novelty of the Match-on-Chip technology lies in its ability to store users’ biometric data on a separate MCU, contrasting with the Match-on-Host systems where biometric verification typically occurs in the computer’s CPU. This distinctive feature amplifies the security posture of Match-on-Chip solutions, making them a preferable choice, especially given their higher average selling price (ASP) and growing market share over the last two years in the PC realm. FPC, already a key player in the market for fingerprint sensors in Chromebooks, sees the PC market as a pivotal new product area, with over half of its addressable market in the PC area being accounted for by Match-on-Chip solutions​​.

In the backdrop of this launch, FPC’s recently unveiled Q3 2023 financial report sheds light on its strategic realignment to navigate market challenges. A notable 29 percent uptick in year-over-year revenues to SEK 184.8 million was reported, alongside a 35 percent surge in gross profit. Despite these gains, a negative EBITDA of SEK -40.4 million was observed, hinting at a slight deterioration from SEK -38.1 million in Q3 2022. Newly appointed CEO, Adam Philpott, underscored the necessity of cost reduction measures to buoy the company’s financial health and future, elucidating on a restructuring program expected to save approximately SEK 204 million annually. This initiative dovetails with FPC’s broader strategic vision of diversifying revenue streams to higher-margin areas like PC, Access, and Payments, thus augmenting its competitive edge in the evolving biometrics industry landscape​​.

Furthermore, FPC’s recognition by Microsoft as an approved vendor for Windows Hello technology underscores its competitive positioning in the PC biometrics domain. This endorsement facilitates FPC’s penetration into the enterprise PC market, which typically demands stringent security standards, achievable through the Match-on-Chip solutions. FPC’s strategic focus is not only aligned with the evolving security paradigms but also anticipates a burgeoning market, predicting that two-thirds of all PC devices will be outfitted with fingerprint sensors by 2026​.

This comprehensive strategy mirrors FPC’s concerted efforts to leverage its technological prowess, augmenting its market share in the burgeoning PC biometrics landscape, while concurrently navigating the intricate financial challenges poised by the market dynamics.

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October 26, 2023 – by the FindBiometrics Editorial Team