New T-Shape Module Could Dramatically Reduce Biometric Payment Card Cost

“…the second generation version of the T-Shape delivers improved image quality, faster processing, and more efficient power consumption.”

Fingerprint Cards has announced an improved version of its T-Shape fingerprint sensor module.

First launched in 2017, the original T-Shape was designed primarily for integrations into smart cards and payment cards. It was quickly embraced by IDEMIA for that company’s F-Code biometric payment card solution, and later integrated into Zwipe’s biometric payment card.

Now, the second generation version of the T-Shape delivers improved image quality, faster processing, and more efficient power consumption. It’s also more cost effective, with FPC aiming to offer the module at a price below $3.00 USD once volume production is achieved.

In announcing the solution, Fingerprint Cards Payments & Access SVP Michel Roig emphasized the technological innovation of the module, asserting that it’s “really quite remarkable.”

“It’s smaller, faster and more cost efficient while enhancing our already market-leading convenience and security,” he said. “Our team has poured years of expertise in the mobile industry, insights from our industry partners, and learnings from the many pilots into this product.”

Roig added that the cost efficiency of the solution will dramatically reduce the overall cost of card manufacturing, opening the door to large-scale global rollouts of biometric payment cards.

“It is a huge step towards all of us having one of these cards in our pockets in the coming years, bringing worry-less payments to consumers around the world,” he asserted.

The announcement comes at a time when major financial services organizations are preparing for the commercialization phase of this emerging payment card technology. For its part, FPC says that the new T-Shape has been approved by its major ecosystem partners and that it will be ready for volume production in Q1 of 2021.

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September 4, 2020 – by Alex Perala