Dynamic signature initiative to secure $20 billion mobile commerce market
23 February, 2004 - Secure signature-based mobile commerce will be simpler to integrate into mobile phone handsets due to the new Dynamic Signature Initiative, launched today by Wacom Components at 3GSM 2004.
This will support the rapid adoption of Wacom's Penabled™ pen-based interface technology as the de facto technology standard for creating legally binding digital biometric signatures for mobile commerce. Through forging industry partnerships with leading signature verification companies, Wacom will offer mobile handset manufacturers and operators a complete solution for capturing and automatically authenticating a biometric signature to enable the secure authorisation of mobile transactions.
Wacom's Penabled™ pen-based interface technology enables the capture of not only the static but also the dynamic parameters of signatures such as the speed of writing, pressure applied, letter shape and the rhythm of the writing process. This allows the creation of a 3D representation of a signature that is unique to each user eliminating the risk of forgeries and therefore fraudulent transactions. The technology is already being used by major banks for creating biometric signatures using Wacom graphics tablets and Tablet PCs.
"Adopting biometric signatures is the only way for the mobile industry to stamp out fraud in mobile commerce and build trust with consumers and businesses," said Justin Staines, sales and marketing director, Wacom Components. "We have already witnessed the perils of using multiple passwords or PIN-codes. Wacom is committed to helping mobile operators unlock the $20 billion mobile commerce market by giving consumers a simple, intuitive way to make transactions that can be trusted."
The mobile payments market is estimated to be worth $20 billion by 2005 (source Arc Group, March 2003). This includes local point of sale payments and making remote purchases as well as simply signing for services such a hotel or airline bookings.
European Union laws concerning digital signatures require the 'unique' identification of a user. This can only be achieved through biometric features - such as a signature, rather than PIN codes, which fail to guarantee security as they can be stolen or verbally transferred. Biometric signature systems also offer a higher security level than those based on physiological features such as eye, face or fingerprints.
Dynamic signature recognition is an integral part of Wacom's Penabled technology, which provides mobile phone users with the capability to write personalised messages, make drawings, access two levels of zooming and perform faster navigation without having to scroll multiple menus. Additionally Penabled devices are more durable, offer better colour transmission, pressure sensitivity, increased input area, precise input control than existing resistive touch systems.
Wacom Components is already a Symbian Platinum Partner and is working closely with Symbian on the development of small form factor sizes for all Symbian platforms including Series 60.
